Healing Woman

OLIVETO

2012-02-15T07:00:00.000-05:00

OLIVETO!

A TRIP TO ITALY IN A BOTTLE

Specialty Oils From All Over The World

As you step into Oliveto, the exciting new shop at West Village, you are in Italy once again or maybe even there for the first time. Your eyes are immediately drawn to the rows of shining silver, Italian designed, olive oil and balsamic vinegar vessels.

Owner, Elizabeth Merian

When I inquired as to whether the shop was a franchise, owner Elizabeth Merian, told me the story of Oliveto. Elizabeth was vacationing in new England and walked into an olive oil shop in Maine. She was instantly in love with the old world charm and wanted to fashion her own style of magic here in Roanoke. She succeeded in her creation of Oliveto because magical it is.

Oils for Tasting

I can’t think of anywhere else that you can have a choice of dozens of specialty olive oils and balsamic vinegars from around the world, none the less, having them freshly bottled especially for you the moment you purchase them.

Jars, lined up and waiting to be filled with award winning olive oils

Elizabeth provides small containers for you to taste the pungent oils. Let your imagination soar as you read the names of these oils. White Truffle Oil, Porcini Mushroom, Japanese Toasted Sesame, Organic Persian Lime. For the vinegars: Coconut, Honey- Ginger, Alfoos Mango, Blenheim Apricot. Just to name a few.

Close-up of Specialty Vinegar

The Shop Also Has a Large Assortment of Spices and Rubs

I could not stop thinking of all the ways in which the large array of Italian staples could be used. With oils in hand, I rushed from Oliveto and came home to create a salad that was greatly enhanced with the oils I purchased.

Here is the recipe for my Bean and Roasted Garlic Salad.

Bean and Roasted Garlic Salad

BEAN AND ROASTED GARLIC SALAD

Several slices of smoked bell peppers
1 lb green beans
6 cups salad greens
2 T. pine nuts-lightly toasted
6 whole garlic bulbs-roasted

Dressing:

16 T. Oliveto garlic oil
5T. Oliveto aged balsamic vinegar (aged in oak barrel for 18 years!)
4T. lime juice
4T. basil, chopped

You can shake this dressing up by trying any of Oliveto’s unusual oils. What about a Wild Mushroom and Sage oil or Tangerine vinegar?

Cook green beans until tender. Refresh under cold water and drain. Preheat oven to 350. Heat about a tablespoon of the garlic olive oil in heavy skillet. Add garlic cloves and sauté for 8 minutes. Cover skillet with lid and transfer to oven and bake till cloves are tender, about 10 minutes. Alternately, if you own a garlic roaster, just pop them into it and roast. Garlic and dressing can be prepared one day ahead and refrigerated. Whisk together olive oil, vinegar and lime. Pour over salad with other ingredients. This salad not only looks delicious but the taste is divine. I plan to experiment with other oils and vinegars from Oliveto.

Serves 4-6

If you live near Roanoke, Virginia or are in the area, I hope you will stop by to visit Oliveto. Located at The Shoppes at West Village, 3565 Electric Road, 24018. You can also visit the website here

CELTIC WATER GODDESS

2012-02-10T08:51:00.013-05:00

CELTIC WATER GODDESS

COVENTINA, SHE OF THE COVENS

"Coventina-She of the Covens, Celtic Water Goddess"

If you have never experimented with encaustic or cold wax, you are missing out on a very sensual experience. Once you start working with it, you’ll want to try it on many of your art projects. I have used the wax on angel wings to instill age, on journal covers and boxes as well. Sometimes, I add the wax with oil to the faces of my paintings.

Closer view

Lately, I have preferred a smooth, life-like finish as seen on my “Coventina,-She of the Covens, Celtic Water Goddess." I ran a digital image of an original painting of her and then added wax and oil paints, fishnet and some small shells.

Close-up

I’ve given her the name of Coventina-She of the Covens-Celtic Water Goddess, but the story is the same one I use with all my ocean pieces. I wrote it years ago but it still applies to my feelings of the sea. You can e-mail me if you are interested in her. She has a ghost-like appearance, as though she just emerged from the sea. Perhaps she is a mermaid but for sure she is a water Goddess. She is for sale at $150.00 and is approx 10”x 14” I painted her on cradled birch board. Thanks so much.

Oceana

As she was standing at the edge of the ocean she
could hear the waves chanting
their familiar song.

“Come to me, I am greater than you, I am wiser than
you..I am the one.”

She resisted once again. How long could she
continue to resist…How much longer before she
embraced her larger self,
her destiny,
her soul…
..the sea….

~ Cheryl Dolby~

INSPIRED BY MEXICO

2012-02-03T17:11:00.009-05:00

INSPIRED BY MEXICO

Mayan Journal Page

My Mexican trip this year was uneventful except for the fact that it is the third year in a row that I was unable to get out of the Roanoke airport. First year it was the snow, second the wind and this year it was the fog that forced me to drive to an International Airport two hours away. It's a lot of work these days to have fun, especially with airline travel being what it is. I might add, it's worth it in the end.

I stayed at a hotel in the Maya Riviera area. This year, the year 2012 end of days year, according to the Mayan calendar, found Mexican vendors selling all sorts of end times souvenirs including 2012 chocolate candy and calendars galore. I personally don’t believe our world will end on December 21, 2012, even though I agree that things are quite a mess right now on our planet. I am hoping that mankind wakes up and sees what a glorious place in which we live. At this time we have plenty of water, clear skies, golden soil and bounteous countryside. It may not always be this way. Overpopulation, over warming and over indulgence threatens us all.

Frida Journal Page

It seemed appropriate that since I’ve started journaling this year, I should present my Mayan journal page and another one of Frida. For the first one, I printed one of my original faces on organza cloth, which can be purchased as 8x11" printing sheets, and placed it over the top of a Mayan picture I had taken years ago.

On the Frida journal page, I used a close-up copy of my original painting of Frida,which can be seen here. I did nothing else to it except destroy it with my atrocious handwriting..LOL…Anyway, I’m off to a good start with journaling this year and find it to be very addictive.

EMPRESS CASSANDRA PLANTER

2012-01-23T07:00:00.002-05:00

EMPRESS CASSANDRA

GODDESS PLANTER

Empress Cassandra Goddess Planter

It’s springtime at my studio at Woodloft. (my home) I have to think one season ahead since it takes so long for my Goddess Planters to dry and then be fired in my kiln. I’m well on my way with many for my customers to choose from when they have their first showing in April.

Close-up

As I sculpted each of Empress Cassandra’s features, she became more and more alive. I felt like she was watching my every move after her eyes were finished. She followed me around the studio, nodding yes or no as I chose the embellishments I would add. The name, Cassandra means “queen of the Olypian gods.” We will be making planters in my upcoming Faces class. Students will work at achieving this kind of realism in their planters, although we will be creating them on a much smaller scale.

Side View

Notice the gorgeous greenery that Cassandra displays? It’s plastic! Anyone who knows me, knows I don’t use plastic anything. Not cups, dishes, silverware and especially not plastic plants. One of my customer’s told me that she puts the expensive silk plants in the planters she has bought from me and she says they are stunning in her home. I thought I’d give it a go since the herbs that I normally place in the pots are hard for me to haul back and forth to the market, where I show. I’m now sold on this idea. Of course, I do intermingle the real ones among my planters in my home.

View From Front

Let me know if you are interested in one of my classes. The second class, Sculpting the Figure in Clay has only 1 space left but the Faces class has 3 openings. It will be a wonderful way to spend an all inclusive vacation with nothing to worry about but sculpting, swimming and dining since absolutely everything is included.

Can You Tell Which Planters Hold Real Greenery?

View From Back

CAGED SANTOS DOLL -NADYA

2012-01-18T16:19:00.014-05:00

CAGED SANTOS DOLL

NADYA

Full Version of Nadya Santos Doll in Windowsill

I’ve been experimenting with caged dolls again. Click here to see the first one I created. Even though a style seems to be emerging, I’m still not satisfied. I do love the aged look but I’m thinking of creating a more modern version while keeping with the history behind the dolls.

Close-up. Notice the sparkly beads at the hinges

I named my doll, Nadya, which means "hope" in Ukrainian. It's a name I just love. We will be sculpting a Santos doll in my upcoming class this summer titled, “Sculpting the Figure in Clay.” It will be interesting to see the various styles that the students will create. There is only one space left in that class. If you’d like to find out more, please click here to visit my webpage.

What I found out when I looked up the history of the Santos doll is that Santos, in Spanish, means saint. They represent a Spanish Colonial and European style and originated as copies of 17th century carvings created by priests. They were created as altars for villagers who were not able to travel a long distance to attend a church. They are a bit like Creche figures, which were created by the Italians.

The dolls were brought to Latin America and America during the Colonial age and used to help convert the Native Americans to Catholicism. The people who create the Santos dolls are called Santeros or Saint Maker. Not a bad occupation I’d say. Who wouldn’t want to be a maker of saints?

BUTTERFLY JOURNAL PAGE

2012-01-12T14:12:00.007-05:00

BUTTERFLY JOURNAL PAGE

Actual Wings of a Butterfly

If you look very closely, you’ll see that the two ladies in this journal page are actually created with butterfly wings! I found them glued to a sheet of paper at the flea market about ten years ago and kept them in my stash for a future use.

Close-up Detail

Since I started my art journal this year, I knew that now was the time and place for them to take a stand in my artwork. I had to pull them off of the worn out paper they were glued to and reglue them to my journal page. It wasn’t easy since they are so delicate. The time and patience someone took in creating these two figures is amazing.

I used a marker to outline the figures and added a bit of a background with a stencil and markers. I wanted to keep the rest as simple as possible since there is so much detail in those tiny wings.

Another Close-up of Wings on Body

I wonder about the butterflies. Were they found in someone’s garden, extinguished of life and waiting to go through a metamorphous once again? I will never know but I do enjoy the beauties they have become.

CARAMELIZED, ROASTED VEGETABLES

2012-01-09T07:00:00.004-05:00

CARAMELIZED, ROASTED VEGETABLES

Caramelized, Roasted Eggplant, Zucchini and Tomatoes with Garlic and Olive Oil

From time to time, I search food blogs to find enticing, unusual recipes. I hit the jackpot when I found this one. It comes from Gourmand in the Kitchen blog, which you can get to by clicking here I decided to make the recipe exactly according to the one on the blog and had wonderful results. Of course, I had to add my own touch to the finished canning jars by using one of my faces for the label. Too bad my penmanship is so bad but at least it looks hand made. Another good thing about this recipe is that it is perfect for a winter diet, which a lot of us are on in January and February at least. Some may want to spoon it over a baked potato or pasta, but I found it to be delicious over lettuce in a salad, or just out of the jar.

I want to make it clear that even though I sterilized the jars in boiling water, I did not officially can the vegetables. If you decide to use canning jars, be sure to tell the recipients that they should be kept refrigerated and eaten within a week.

I Love the Way the Jars Look All Lined Up

The Flavor Improves After 48 Hours but I Didn't Wait That Long to Try!

I Found An Old Picnic Basket at the Flea Market and Painted Girl and Saying with Acrylic Paint

All Ready to go to The Le Petit Supper Club

If you are wondering where these jars are going, well, to my special friends at the Le Petit Supper Club as a New Year's gift. We consider our Supper Club to be one of the best kept secrets in Roanoke. Our theme for January was soups and sandwiches. I was worried about staying on my diet but was thrilled to find one of the best sandwiches I’ve ever eaten and it is actually good for you! It was created by James Priestley, who has recently moved to Roanoke from Portland, Maine. The sandwich includes a strange combination of ingredients that I did not think would work but I was wrong.

James' Healthy Tempeh Stackups

Close-up of Interior of Sandwich

So here is the recipe (James says it is not a recipe but a concoction) for the marinated vegetables and the ingredients for the sandwich. He also didn’t give them a name but I did..”Healthy Tempeh Stackups”

Healthy Tempeh Stackups

Toasted sprouted grain bread, swiss cheese, grainy hot mustard, prepared horseradish, 3 grain tempeh sauteed in sesame oil with coarse red pepper and a sprinkle of soy sauce, sauerkraut, sweet red pepper, sliced red onion,baby bella mushrooms sauteed in olive oil, butter, and paprika, spinach just lightly collapsed in hot olive oil (sauteed) and sprinkled with balsamic vinegar, the top slice of toasted bread brushed with extra virgin olive oil, 3 sprout mix or alfalfa sprouts and love!

One more minor but important note regarding the tempeh: place it upon a cutting board and slice it laterally before sauteeing it in the skillet. The freshly cut surface will absorb whatever flavors you care to add much more readily than the outside surface, and it cooks in half the time.

Roasted Vegetables All Ready for the Oven

RECIPE: Marinated Roasted Eggplant, Zucchini and Tomatoes with Garlic and Thyme

INGREDIENTS
• 4 medium zucchini, thinly sliced into rounds
• 3 small eggplants, thinly sliced into rounds
• 6 or 7 medium sized tomatoes, quartered or sliced into rounds depending on size (or alternatively 1 basket cherry or grape-sized tomatoes, halved)
• 4 large fresh thyme sprigs
• 6 garlic cloves, unpeeled
• 1 teaspoon sea salt
• Freshly ground black pepper
• 1 cup / 240ml (or more) extra virgin olive oil
INSTRUCTIONS
1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees (180 C).
2. Arrange the zucchini, eggplant and tomatoes on a large rimmed baking sheet. Scatter the leaves from 2 thyme sprigs and garlic cloves over. Drizzle with some of the olive oil, then sprinkle with coarse sea salt and freshly ground black pepper.
3. Roast for about 45 minutes or until tender, turning the vegetables over occasionally; until they shrink slightly but are still plump and moist.
4. Layer the hot vegetables, peeled roasted garlic cloves and remaining fresh sprigs of thyme, into into sterilized jars, filling them to the very top. (You can use one large jar or a few smaller ones.)
5. Cover the vegetables completely with the rest of the extra virgin olive oil and put the lids on tightly.
6. Put the jars aside until they’re cool.
7. Refrigerate at least 48 hours to allow the flavors to develop. Bring to room temperature before using.
Preparation time: 30 minute(s)
Cooking time: 45 minute(s

WHEN THE CREATIVE SPIRIT HITS

2012-01-04T08:10:00.000-05:00

WHEN THE CREATIVE SPIRIT HITS

Journal Page Number 1

Remember the old journals that they used to sell years ago-long before memory making journals were even thought of? Well, I made a new years resolution that after seeing so many creative journals in blogland, that I wanted to finally start my own.

Journal Page Number 2

Unfortunately, it was the New Year’s holiday and no stores were open for me to go out and purchase a spiffy journal album. Actually, I really didn’t want to buy one anyway in case I messed up. Since the creative spirit or muse hit, I knew I had to improvise. I dug through my old pictures that I keep meaning to get sorted and found several ugly old journals that must be 40 years old! They are one of a kind now since I don’t think anyone is making these outdated beauties anymore.

Old Album I found In My Studio

Here are 2 that I have finished. Oh how I wish I had good penmanship! I’ve tried writing and printing on some of my artwork before and it is unreadable! I have even taken courses in calligraphy to no avail. I was thinking of trying to write in Italian or French which would be fun but I can’t do that either. I’m taking an Italian course right now so maybe next year but for now, my scribbles will have to do.

Close-up

My method for these two pages was this. On page number 1, I used a digital print of one of my original paintings and painted the background with acrylic so that it can be written on. Then, I cut out pictures from magazines and attached along with a very ancient looking key I had in studio. I painted over her hair with purple acrylic and then added a coat of sparkle translucent paint over the background making sure I didn't completely hide the musical notes and finally added Dorland's wax medium for a refined look and for protection. I love this wax.

For page number 2, I used magazine images and rubbed Never-Dull Wadding Polish to meld the images to my liking. Then I applied crackle glaze to the face and finished it off with more of the Dorland's wax.

Another Close-Up of Crackle Technique

I haven’t written on either of the pages yet (still procrastinating) so if anyone would like to make a copy of them to use in your own journaling, please feel free.

TAKING FLIGHT TO THE WORLD OF ART

2011-12-31T12:28:00.001-05:00

TAKING FLIGHT TO THE WORLD OF ART

Bruce's Paintings of Old Auto's Lost To The World Of Rust

What is retirement? To some, it is time for relaxation and travel. For others, and I’m speaking about my friend Bruce Hauser, it is time for exploring the world of art. Of course travel will be a part of that journey. After all, what better place is there to gain inspiration than old worlds such as Italy and France?

Dr. Bruce Hauser and Sister (on the right)

Last night at Bruce’s retirement party, I gained a new respect for this doctor who spent decades giving his time and experience to our community. I realized after talking to his family and friends and seeing the art that generously covered the walls of he and his wife, Gwen’s, home, that this certainly will not be a boring retirement. I really should not have been surprised since Bruce had taken a stained glass class from me many years ago, before I started sculpting, and I did see an artistic side of him at that time.

Much to my surprise, I also found out that Gwen is quite an artist as well. Bruce enjoys painting decrepit autos that have been abandoned from days of yore while Gwen prefers painting, in direct contrast to Bruce, spirited women who appear to be in motion and having a good time right on the canvas in front of you. Being gracious students, the Hauser’s teacher, Carol Marlowe Nelms, was given credit for nurturing these two artists into producing spectacular work.

Gwen Hauser (Left) and Carol Marlowe Nelms (Right)

Chanticleer Catering

One of the many highlights of the evening was the food. Of course the food would impress me since I love to cook. I don’t think I could have produced the tasty morsels that the Chanticleer Catering service provided. The word Chanticleer translates to le coq or rooster. I’m not sure why they named their establishment that but it certainly is a name I will remember for my next large gathering.

I think it is important for those who are about to embark on the journey to retirement, that there are many avenues to explore and a new world certainly awaits you. As for me, well, I don’t think an artist ever really retires. Our lives are dedicated to the world of art and we have no choice but to produce.

Daughter, Juliana and Husband

Daughter, Gail

Juliana's Renewed Burning Bowl That I Created For Her Many Years Ago

Granddaughters

Gwen On The Left

Joan Petrus on the Right

More Partygoers

Happy New Year to everyone and may your journey in 2012 be an artful one!

OLD WORLD KOLACHE

2011-12-19T17:48:00.001-05:00

OLD WORLD KOLACHE

Old World Kolache

I grew up in an ethnic neighborhood where there were primarily Italians, Greeks and Eastern European residents. It seemed that all the women had their own recipe for Kolache. Everyone made it at Christmastime. Back then, it did not seem unusual to me that there was only one nut grinder in the entire neighborhood. Everyone took turns using it to grind the l pound of nuts required to make the recipe. How much easier we have it today with our very own food processors. Almost everyone has one. We would have never believed that to be possible back in the 50’s. Sharing was a part of our way of life.

Always a Basket Next to the Door Brimming Full of Kolache Loaves

Kolache seems to have originated with the Czech culture and dates back to the 1700’s. The Polish families in our neighborhood prided themselves on making this old world bread. I remember every Christmas or Thanksgiving seeing a basket sitting next to the door of almost every home just filled with aluminum foil wrapped kolache. I would not be exaggerating to say that some families had several dozen waiting for relatives and friends to take home. “Be sure to grab a kolache on your way out” was something I always heard mentioned. A lot of the recipes included fruit but the one used in our neighborhood always had nuts. I have heard it called “Nut Rolls” later but back then it was Kolache.

Loaf of Kolache Just Out of the Oven

Years ago, my mother had a baking session in the Woodloft (my home) kitchen. She taught my daughters how to make her famous kolache. Naturally, everyone assumed that I already knew how to make this delicacy but the truth was that I had always been quite happy to let my mother make it each year. I had never actually made it from scratch on my own. I was hoping that by osmosis or some other scientific miracle I absorbed the method because this Christmas, for the first time ever, I made my own batch of kolache.

I must tell you, there were many tears shed as remembered how my mother would say, “be sure to add just a thin amount of the evaporated milk,” or “you have to make sure you add just the right amount of honey.” The kitchen looked and smelled exactly like it did in those precious days when my mother was at the helm. The lacking ingredient, of course, was my dear mother’s laugh as she kneaded the dough and carefully wrapped each treasure in aluminum foil.

Here is my mother’s recipe. I think she made the best kolache in town, but then again, everyone thought they made the best.

Jane Galloway’s Kolache

5 cups regular white flour 1 t. vanilla
1 cup of whole wheat flour 3 small cakes of yeast or 2 envelopes
2 T. sugar 3 eggs, beaten
1t. salt 1 C. milk
1 lb margarine canned milk-evaporated milk
Honey –

Filling:
1 lb. shelled ground walnuts
1 lb brown sugar

Mix flour, sugar, margarine and salt as for pie crust. Dissolve yeast into ¼ C. water and add to milk, vanilla and eggs. Add liquid mixture a little at a time to flour mixture. (knead with hands) Place in refrigerator for 3 hours or overnight. Divide into 9 pieces or 7, depending on desired size. Roll out, spread the top with canned milk (thin) and spread with nut mixture filling and add honey on top.

Roll up the dough and let rise for about 30 minutes on a cookie sheet. Brush with canned milk and an egg and add a dash of white sugar to the top of each roll. Bake at 350 for 25-30 minutes watching carefully to make sure the top does not burn.

This bread is absolutely delicious. It is filled with walnuts. The yeast dough combined with the subtle taste of honey just melts in your mouth. Served warm out of the oven, it is the embodiment of pure pleasure.

Merry Christmas!

ARIEL GODDESS SCULPTURE

2011-11-28T16:50:00.001-05:00

“ARIEL”

"Ariel"

Yet another sculpture to match my B-dazle car! I can’t help it. I love that beaded look. Below are her specifics.

Back Side of Ariel

Ariel is a completely original sculpture that I have just finished created this morning. I used stoneware clay for her body and fired her in a kiln to a high temperature for durability. I added seed beads to her surface for a glitz factor. She is 11"deep x 12"H x12"wide. She will be at home in a contemporary or eclectic surrounding.

Close-up

Close-up of Beadwork

She's comfortable on my Fantasy Art Chair

Here is the story I have written for her:

“ARIEL”

Ribbons of light were drifting on the
wings of the wind
Cosmic rhythms beating unmercifully, began
to reveal to her the secrets of
her heart.
She began to feel infinite love, wisdom and
energy in the universe. She had finally connected
with her higher self and she knew she
was a radiant being, filled with light
And love

~Cheryl Dolby~

Ariel is for sale I listed her on e-bay and is also on my Etsy shop. You can also e-mail me directly for more details.

Thanks so much!

Santos Caged Doll

2011-11-18T13:30:00.000-05:00

SANTOS CAGED DOLL

Benedetta, Santos Caged Doll

I CREATED A SAINT! It’s true. Benedetta, is the first in my Santos series. I thought this name to be appropriate since it means, blessed in Italian. It wasn’t very long ago that I first heard about Santos dolls and since then I notice they seem to be appearing everywhere. After completing a full fledged study about them, I was hooked.

Close-up

Santos, in Spanish, means saint. They represent a Spanish Colonial and European style and originated as copies of 17th century carvings created by priests. They were created as altars for villagers who were not able to travel a long distance to attend a church. They are a bit like Creche figures, which were created by the Italians.

Wooden base-skirt with beads

Santos dolls usually held flowers, bibles, jewelry or bird nests in their bases and dangling from the neck and arms. Sometimes they are left unadorned, allowing for a statement to be made.

Full length shot

I hand sculpted my original santos in stoneware clay, including arms, torso and head. I added the sparkle of faceted beads and texture to her torso. Beaded hinges hold her arms in place. She is 24” tall and is priced at $245. Benedetta can be seen at my shop. You can also e-mail me to make arrangement to purchase. I take all major credit cards and Paypal. Shipping prices will vary with location but I can ship anywhere in the world.

I’m really happy with the way she turned out. She is the first in my Santos series. Even though she is not an original created by the Santeros of old, she is a new original, not a reproduction.

THOSE WERE THE DAYS

2011-11-14T08:04:00.001-05:00

THOSE WERE THE DAYS

Number 1 brochure

Those of us who grew up in the 50’s remember a special time of freedom. There are many nostalgic e-mails going around about how we, as children of the 50’s had an ideal kind of life back then. We would leave the house in the morning with our parents calling out to us,“be home before dark.” This was entirely true. Not only did we leave for the day but our parents couldn’t even reach us. Phones were attached to walls in those days. We were free! Often they’d ask us to lock the doors when we came in at night. Our door was a screen with a little hook latch.

Number 2 brochure

We bought ice cream drumsticks at our local Italian market, Joe’s, for .04 cents and rummaged through the basically unwrapped nut topped ice cream cone, peeking inside the thin, open paper and sometimes even feeling inside, to find the largest one. We would then hand Joe 2 glass ‘pop’ bottles for our refund totaling 04. cents.

There were no TV’s because, because even though they were just invented, most families could not afford to own one. We opted for the radio with programs like, The Green Hornet and Sky King or even, if we dared, The Shadow.

Number 3 brochure

The decades flew past and before we knew it, we landed in the year 2012. That’s a long stretch from graduation in 1962!

The reason for all this lamenting over the past is because our class of 1962 is about to have our 50th reunion in August of 2012. I must tell you, this is not just any class but a very special one, held together by a very special woman, Virginia Nagy Hall. She created a class newsletter which is comical as well as informative. In the newsletter, which she sends out once a month, she lists class members who are having special health problems and gives encouragement all the while filling us in on current events of classmates. She even started a facebook page for all of us to follow one another. She holds a ‘girl’s’ annual Christmas party and through her encouragement the ‘fellows’ have followed suit. We are all so thankful for Virginia.

Virginia Nagy Hall. Doesn't she look fiesty in her 50's garb?

With the upcoming reunion, there are many things that must be done. Securing facilities for our almost 500 class members and guests is no small chore. There are monies to sort through and a variety of other jobs. Among them, the task of creating a brochure listing all of the class members, including children, grandchildren, hobbies, world travels etc. Jennifer Anderson McGarry was gracious in volunteering for the job. This is a tedious undertaking which involves compiling a lot of facts. Now, finally, the purpose for this posting. Jennifer has asked me if I could come up with a cover for the brochure. My immediate response was a “Yes.” Of course, I am honored to help out with this. But now I’d like to ask a favor of my dear blog buddies and followers. I’ve come up with 3 samples so far for covers which I feel are descent but I’d like your opinion as to which one would be best suited. (Our school colors are red, white and black) I was thinking it might be a good idea to create one with a layered digital effect. By this I mean the misty, surreal look that digital artists achieve. Quite frankly, I don’t know how to do this! The effect might look good on the one with the female in the middle. She is supposed to be looking like she is remembering our time back in the 50’s. Then again, maybe I should have a male in that picture too? I’m wondering if I can give them a ‘ghostlike’ effect, sort of like they are going back to their past.

I look forward to your much needed and appreciated thoughts and advice on this subject. Thanks so much!

NEFERTITI EGYPTIAN GODDESS PLANTER

2011-11-08T06:11:00.003-05:00

NEFERTITI EGYPTIAN

GODDESS PLANTER

Nefertiti Egyptian Planter

I’ve been sculpting away every day trying to get ready for next spring’s Goddess planter presentation. Last year, as I noted in a previous posting, I sold out of the planters after a few showings and wished I had started a few months earlier. I usually start in January.

Close-up

The planters have taken on lots of new twists this time around. I’m even doing theme type Goddesses. My Egyptian planter is a first. Although most of my planters can be left outdoors all summer, Nefertiti must be kept inside or in a screened porch area because of the cloth draping around her body.

Side view

It would probably be a good idea to invest in a snake like plant to go along with the Egyptian theme for when I show her in the spring.

I’ll be teaching how to make planters and Goddess standing sculptures at my class next July. There are 3 spaces left with only a deposit required at this time to hold your place. Please check out the Faces class for all information on my residential sculpture classes.

Another side view

THE GOLDEN SILENCE

2011-10-27T06:30:00.001-04:00

THE GOLDEN SILENCE

Close-up of collage/painting "The Golden Silence"

It never ceases to amaze me what can be accomplished in life if we learn to follow our intuition and just go with it. What follows is a true story. Where it leads is a good question but so far it has been an amazing and magical journey.

It started with my sculpture school last summer. The 4 students came from all walks of life and areas of the country. We were in tune from the moment we all met. By that I mean we all seemed to be in sync with what we wanted to accomplish as far as the sculpture goes, but there was something else almost indefinable that happened during the week. We all started to feel a strong bond to one another that lasted far beyond the week long class. It was not a happy gathering when we had to say our good-byes.

"The Golden Silence"

When everyone got home. We felt like something was missing in our lives. All seemed anxious to continue the class next summer but there was something else we felt we needed to do. Finally, after many group e-mails, we knew what it was. We decided to write a book together.

At first I thought it may not turn out to be much, just a bunch of women talking about their week in the class. I kept asking everyone what in the world could anyone possibly want to read that happened during that simple week. But then, all of our intuitions kicked in. The creative force and our special bonding had us writing away. Our new book is all we have been able to think about for months now.

Symbolism hidden in painting

The Golden Silence collage I have just finished is my interpretation of something that happens in the book. I can’t tell you any more about it until we finish but I have my hopes up for a book/movie to materialize sometime next year. (I’m an optimist) There is symbolism all throughout the painting.

Another hidden image

This is the story I have given the "Golden Silence" and an excerpt from the book, which we haven’t named yet.

The Golden Silence

She was inhaling pure energy through the Golden Light, which was part of the Golden Silence. It was as though her mind was being downloaded, as a computer program might be, from one folder to another. All of her memories were being pulled by some unknown power and the destination was to another realm in time. This download, of which could be called her soul, seemed to be accelerating at tremendous speed through what could only be described as a portal from one place to another.

~Cheryl Dolby~

Below is the method I used to create this piece. She is for sale and priced at $400. Natually, I will take plenty of pictures of her so that I can use in my quilting, journals and other artwork. Please email me if you are interested in her and we can go from there. Dimensions are: 22w x 28h x 1 1/2" deep. I take all credit cards, checks and Paypal.

Cutting aluminum foil for orbs seen throughout painting, rough in of face

Attached laces and other textured fabric and paper for background

I used oils for face and background paints are acrylic

MORNING SONG GODDESS SCULPTURE

2011-10-24T07:46:00.000-04:00

MORNING SONG
GODDESS SCULPTURE

Morning Song Sculpture

Any time I finish a sculpture that has a rich, ancient and ethnic feel to it, I seem to name it Morning Song, which is one of the stories in my She Who Whispers book. I used an old rug from my stash of fabrics. The rug that I used as her cloak, looks rather tribal and it may be a Turkish Kilim. I googled it but couldn’t find the source. If anyone knows the origin of this rug, I'd really appreciate it if you would let me know.

Close-up

I used to feel guilty about cutting up something so ancient but now I just tell myself that it is being repurposed to create one of my Goddess sculptures that will bring just as much pleasure to the owner as it sits on the sculpture stand as it would have as the rug on the floor.

I used a variety of beads and other fabric and an old vessel, which I am almost sure came from India.

Side view

During my sculpture class next summer, we will be creating a similar Goddess. You can find all the details for the class on the top right hand side of my blog. I have one space left in the Figure class and three spaces left in the Faces class. Hope you will join us here at Woodloft for a memorable week.

Another side view

Here is the Morning Song story.

“ Morning Song”

She woke up this morning feeling different.
She heard the sounds of this morning and
yet the sounds of many other lifetime mornings
were returning. She heard the infinite sound
of distant runic bells, a call to alms, merchants
voices echoing over the river Nile, sheep
bleating on a pastoral hillside, roosters, guns,
flutes, chimes, laughter, weeping..for she had
heard all these mornings and she had heard
all these sounds before. It was as if they were
all becoming one great sound...one great
morning..this morning....and she knew that all
the returns of mornings purpose was to teach
her the uniqueness and significance of this
morning...of now.

~Cheryl Dolby~

SWITCH PLATE COVERS

2011-10-19T10:23:00.002-04:00

SWITCH PLATE COVER

"Giver of Light" Switch plate cover

I’ve been on a monochrome and black and white kick lately. Also, a lot of the Givers of Light (switch plate covers) have been of a contemporary nature and suited for men as well as women. Who wouldn't want to be greeted by this rustic face when they turn on their light?

Here is the latest one.

Full shot of Giver of Light

Another close-up

Just $55. plus shipping. Please e-mail me if you’d like to purchase. I take checks, all major credit cards or Paypal.

Thanks so much.

OIL MOSAIC COLLAGE

2011-10-14T15:25:00.001-04:00

OIL MOSAIC COLLAGE

Oil mosaic collage

I realize that the title could make you think there should be a comma in-between each medium listed in my title of this post but it really is a description of a new method I have invented.

Close-up of face

Method:
I painted a face onto a wooden board I happened to have in my studio. I used the Renaissance oil method. Next, I collaged mosaic tiles onto the surface, giving the piece a rustic, yet rich look.

Close-up of tiles added

I just love the way she looks as part of this chair

She is not for sale at this time but I’m working on one I call “The Crone” that I will be posting soon.

The Crone

BOOKS, BOOKS AND MORE BOOKS

2011-10-06T07:13:00.000-04:00

BOOKS BOOKS BOOKS

Woman Within the Web Layers Grandmother Tree
She Who Whispers

Grandmother Tree Sculpture

I love to read. Until just recently, I, like so many others, preferred to read real paper books. I wanted books that were tangible. I wanted books in which I could indulge in wonderful tactile pages. I was very leary when my children bought me an electronic book for my birthday last January. It was foreign to me-all rigid and lifeless. I tried to be appreciative and ordered a book to be downloaded to my lime colored Kindle from Amazon e-books

While reading it one day, my daughter, Kirsten, looked over at it and exclaimed, “Mom, why are you reading it in such a small font? Can you see that!” She showed me her Kindle and I was shocked to see huge font-the kind you can see from over an arm’s length away! I said, “You mean you can enlarge the font?” She laughed. Ever since that day, I was a believer. I have now ordered literally dozens of books from Amazon in every genre except cookbooks and art books. How I love this new and wonderful technology! I will always cherish my home library and still do buy regular bound books but I now prefer to read from my Kindle.

My Lime Kindle

This post is all about books so I thought maybe some of you, who read my posts on a regular basis, have wondered where the stories that I attach to my work originated. Here is a summary of each book.

SHE WHO WHISPERS

In a distant place and another time, life was okay. Then, tragedy hit and I knew the meaning of deep sorrow. I started sculpting faces. The sculpting kept me from being overwhelmed by despair as I focused, instead, on creation. As my first sculpture emerged from the clay, so did its tale – the story of the "Timekeeper." As my second sculpture emerged, so, too did its story; and "Soaring Spirit" was born. It seemed that the sculptures told me their names and their stories as they emerged from the clay. And I knew them well, because in reality, the lives of these women were mine. All of these women are me in various times and seasons of my tenure on this earth.

Soaring Spirit

A voice sounded..at first it seemed to be a
Murmur. Quietly it expressed the thought..
"Take your power now."
As the days passed, it became increasingly
Louder until it became as a roar, vibrating her
Entire being.. "Take your power now.!" She
Began to reexamine her life. So much time
Had passed, and in all that time she had
Remained spiritually deaf and blind. She had
Not heard..She had not seen...and the voice
Continued speaking to her..resonating
Throughout every cell in her body..electrifying
To the inner core of her soul until she had no
choice but to listen.."Take your power now."
It continued. "For you have given your life
To others and in that giving, you have emptied
Yourself. It is only when you are empty that you
Can truly be full and free to live".....

~Cheryl Dolby~

“TIMEKEEPER”

There were three doors opening in her
life, the doors of yesterday, today
and tomorrow. Yesterday appeared
to be only an illusion, tomorrow a vision.
both were vague and nebulas. Today was a
place she could not bear to be. The choice
was at hand. The voice of intuition
began to speak to her and somehow,
she knew in her heart that all time
Is simultaneous…the first
cry also being the last..for there
Is only now. By dealing with life
in the present, she could begin to remove
some of the scars of the past
and thus change her future. With a
renewed sense of the importance of now..
and a recharged inner essence..she entered
the door of today, where a new world
awaited her.

~Cheryl Dolby~

When I traveled on the art show circuit, many of my customers would stand for long periods of time reading the stories I had attached to each sculpture. Some of the stories brought tears to their eyes; others, smiles of knowing to their faces. At the prompting of those customers – "We can't afford to buy all your sculpture to get the stories" – I decided to self-publish She Who Whispers. But I needed the expertise to pull it all together. A book called "How to Publish Your Own Book," by Dan Poyntner, showed me the way. I highly recommend it. This book removed any reservations I had about self-publishing: I was so excited. That was in 1990 and She Who Whispers is still selling extremely well.

GRANDMOTHER TREE

Yet another sculpture inspired me to write Grandmother Tree. She haunted me for a long time before she came to life. Finally she emerged from the clay much like her predecessors. But this time, roots began to twist themselves around her base and in and around her hair. She begged for moss and tree lichen, for walnut halves, for raindrops. Her story came to me piece by piece as each bit of nature was added to her.

“Grandmother Tree”

The trees are alive! She wandered
into the garden early one morning
and she heard them speak to one another..
It was a language spoken on another
frequency..in another vibrational time
frame. They spoke of healing with power
and energy and of the relationship between
energy and matter.

She was drawn to an ancient Chinese
Elm and as she leaned her body next to the
base, somehow she felt immersed
in the tree and felt herself slip into the
tree..was one with the
tree and knew that she was the tree.....

~Cheryl Dolby~

The story of my first grandmother tree is the story of each and every one of my grandmother trees. But they all seem to want to be different sizes. The first one was a tall standing figure. Next came the ones who wanted to cling to the walls, making the area around them come alive with nature. I sell a lot of the smaller ones now. It could be the economy, but I think it is more the fact that they are adaptable to smaller spaces.

Grandmother Tree Sculpture

I have discontinued this book because it is outdated. By that I mean, I had references throughout the book of several artists friends who are no longer producing the products I recommended, or they are simply out of the art business.

Another Grandmother Tree Sculpture

WOMAN WITHIN THE WEB

A trip to Europe set the stage for this story. After separating from my husband of many years, I had traveled to the picturesque Loire Valley of France. The nominal reason for my journey was to take a month-long class in anatomical sculpture presented by a master of the art. But, after the breakdown of my marriage, I was also ready for romance. What woman doesn't dream of meeting her prince charming in a romantic setting like that of rural France? I had a premonition that I would meet someone, and I did. He was a sculptor, not from France, but from California. We hit it off and spent 30 days immersed in sculpture, restaurants, wine cellars, medieval castles, and each other. But even as I drank in the wonders of France, I was driven by a second and darker motivation – my son’s mental illness. He had developed paranoid schizophrenia, and I had heard that there was a French clinic that offered a cure for the fractured personalities of this illness. The claims proved to be untrue. But I stumbled across a shaman in the area who was renowned for making his patients whole. And therein the story begins. My search for shamanic healing led me into a surreal world of haunted castles and a village laboring under a curse placed on it by the Mergovinian dynasty. My customers have told me that Woman Within the Web is a must read for all those who are at a crossroads in their lives.

My work on this book reminded once again of an amazing phenomenon I have often experienced when writing. As my writing gains momentum, it as if the book is writing itself! In Woman, the characters took on lives of their own. Sometimes I was excited to just sit at my keyboard and find out what was going to happen. Even though the story was coming to life through my very own fingers, I couldn’t be sure what my characters were going to do until they did it! And I couldn’t anticipate where the day’s writing was going to end up until the end of the session. And when I finally saw that my characters had done all they were going to do for the day – well, then, I sighed.

Picture of castle featured in book

LAYERS

This is my second-favorite book by any author. Interesting that it happens to be written by me! My favorite is Dandelion Wine by Ray Bradbury. In June of 1953 he wrote of “medicines of another time, the balm of sun and idle afternoons, the faintly heard sounds of ice wagons passing on brick avenues, the rush of silver skyrockets, all these in a glass.” I can't say enough about Ray Bradbury. Not too many people realize that his earlier works included over 500 publications on topics ranging from life in middle America to life on other planets and in formats ranging from plays to poems to novels. He was a master of science fiction. Among my favorite works of his from this genre are The Martian Chronicles, The Illustrated Man and Fahrenheit 451, which deals with a society who denies it’s citizens books. I hope that it never comes to fruition.

In Layers, I have written a story that starts out slowly. It is about a girl around 12 years of age. She and her friend find a mysterious book. It is a book that changes both of their lives forever. The story at first makes you think it is about each girl becoming a woman. Later you find that what is happening is not what you thought. This book is a celebration of women. I will probably never be able to achieve in another book what I have in Layers. It comes from my heart and aims to reach the hearts of women in all walks of life. If I could choose only one book to have while stranded on a desert island – other than Dandelion Wine – I'd choose Layers.

I used Mexican bark paper for the covers, one of my unique clay faces for the front, an ancient grapevine branch for the spine and an old key for the bookmark.

Now, last but not least, I must tell you of some real excitement that is brewing. Four of my friends, some are bloggers, are collaborating on a new book. It may be one of the most exciting things I’ve ever done. The story is intense and humorous at the same time. I will keep you abreast of our book as we make progress.

In the meantime, If you are interested in purchasing one or both of the two books available now, please e-mail me and we can go from there.

Layers is priced at $32. and Woman Within the Web is $12. I accept all the major charge cards, checks and Paypal.

Thanks again for enduring my very long post on books. Good thing I’m not adding my reading list to this!!

MUSSELS AND GIVERS OF LIGHT

2011-09-23T08:14:00.001-04:00

MUSSELS AND “GIVERS OF LIGHT”

"Giver of Light" light switch cover

Sold

Thank you Kimberly

Strange title for a blog post huh? There is method to my madness. I’ve been hungry lately. I mean really hungry. It might be attributed to the change in weather we have had in Virginia this week, but whatever it is, I have been cooking constantly all week. The brisk air has also given me an added boost and I’ve been in the studio round the clock (when not in the kitchen) So, this week, I’m presenting my recipe for Mussels. I know not everyone likes mussels but it seems that those who do, really love them. I also am presenting my “Giver of Light” light switch cover. They have been very popular but I don’t seem to get around to making them very often for some reason. This one is much more contemporary looking than the others I have created but I like the change.

LOIRE VALLEY MUSSELS WITH COMMONSTOCK

Living in a farm community in the Loire Valley in France, as I did years ago, presented a few small problems. Almost every night as I dined at quaint restaurants, the owners would have the windows wide open. The aroma from the manure fertilizers that the French farmers used competed with the bouquet of the fabulous French food.

Mussels were served on a regular basis at most of these restaurants. One restaurant in particular served the absolute best mussels I have ever eaten. It took me many tries to be able to duplicate the special sauce they served with the mussels. When I lived at home, my father always referred to these stocks or sauces as “commonstock” I don’t know where that name originated but I still use it. The commonstock in this case is made from basil, wine and heavy cream. Still, there is one missing ingredient. No matter how hard I try, I cannot replicate the fertilizer aroma!

These are sooooo good!

Here is my rendition of that wonderful dish.

Serves 12 as a first course, 6 as a main course.

6 lbs. mussels. Mussels must be closed when you buy them. Wash them and throw away any that are not closed or do not close with a tap on opening. After cooking, throw any away that have not opened.

3 medium onions
6-10 garlic cloves. I use whole bulb.
2 sticks of unsalted butter or a bit more if needed plus a little olive oil
2 cup of white wine. I have heard that Alsatian Gewurztraminer wine is the best to use. I have tried a lot of different wines. Acidic wine from the Loire Valley is very good as well.
1 ½ cups of heavy cream
3 cups fresh basil
Salt and pepper
a small handful of capers.
3 bottles clam juice-8 oz each

l. Cook onion and garlic in butter and oil over low heat till softened. About 3-5 minutes. Add mussels.

2. Add wine and clam juice and cook covered over high heat till mussels open wide. About 6-8 minutes

3. Transfer the mussels to large pasta bowls and put commonstock into food processor or blender along with the cream, basil and pepper mixture. Blend till smooth. Add capers and season Pour over the mussels. Definitely have a good crusty bread for dunking or serve over pasta, preferably homemade.

Another view of "Giver of Light"

“Giver of Light” switch cover is $55. Please e-mail me if you’d like to purchase.

FRIDA JOURNALS AND SKETCHBOOKS

2011-09-12T09:32:00.000-04:00

FRIDA JOURNALS AND SKETCHBOOKS

Crackled wax effect on number 2 Frida

Here I go again with my Frida obsessions. I spent so much time on the face for the painting I worked on a few months ago, that I am trying to utilize that time by using the digitals for various artwork that I normally create. This time around, I’ve chosen the “Gypsy Woman” series. Frida may not have been a gypsy but she had the heart and soul of one. She loved to dress in the native Mexican garb and wore flowers and jewelry that depicted her country.

All three Frida journals

I ran a digital image of Frida. I used all sorts of yarn and ribbons to embellish the spine and I placed some of the flowers I dried from my garden onto the front with encaustic wax, which I then painted.

Frida journal number 1

Close-up of wax finish

Inside back journal number 1

For the second journal, I did much the same with a few variations like crackling the face. The third one is an image from my “Music is my refuge” collage. I think she also looks Frida-ish.

Crackled wax effect on journal number 2

"Music is my Refuge" journal

Hope you like them. They are for sale. If I don’t sell them here at my blog, I plan to take them to the Farmer’s Market where I sell each Saturday. Hopefully these journals will appeal to someone who likes the textural feel of the cloth and wax.

Journal number 1 is 5x7” and priced at $46. Number 2 is also $46 and number 3 is $42. Please e-mail me if you are interested and we can go from there. I take all major credit cards, checks or Paypal.

Thanks so much! Hugs XX00
Cheryl

TWINKLE TOES

2011-09-02T09:43:00.003-04:00

“TWINKLE TOES”

My sparkly b-dazzled web-toed shoes

I am the secret salesman for Vibram shoes. By that I mean, they haven’t hired me or paid me a single penny for my labors and yet I go out and about, here and there promoting their webbed toed shoes.

This madness all started when I pulled a tendon in my knee during the summer and had a hard time walking in my regular sandals. My friend, Trish, had been having problems with her back and recommended the web shoes to me. After trying them on, I was hooked. My walking improved and I’m thrilled to say, by adding a few little gems to the toes, they match my B-Dazle car!

My feet now match my car!!!

We are having our Labor Day, birthday party combo on Monday and I have purchased a pair for my son-in-law. As a little joke, I’m attaching the sparkles to each of the toes on his shoes before I gift wrap them. Of course the sparkles are the kind that just peel off. Won’t he be surprised when he opens his gift to see these very feminine sparkled web toes! Just think, he will have shoes to match his mother-in-laws!

Ya gotta have some fun these days

Also, I wanted to give everyone the heads up that I have just added my new class schedule to my right hand side bar. I’m thrilled to say that I only need one more student for the Sculpting the Figure in Clay class since all of the previous class members have registered for the new class! You can check out both of these classes by clicking here

Sculpting the Figure in Clay

Click here for details.

Faces, faces, faces

Click here for details

CREATIVE ENERGY

2011-08-24T06:51:00.001-04:00

CREATIVE ENERGY

Goddess of Winter Solstice

Last spring, I completely sold out of my Goddess planters. For some reason, people were more excited about them than in previous years. A few customers asked if I would create some for Christmas and I bulked at the idea. My thought was that they would not make good Christmas gifts because people aren’t thinking plants at that time. Not to be discouraged, one of my best customers urged me to create them just the same and add artificial silk plants to them. Now, Let me say that right off the bat, I am not a fan of anything artificial. But…having said that, there is some really gorgeous silk greenery that might just work for wintertime. So, I decided to get going since the clay takes a long time to dry and I’m thinking I might have a Christmas show for them here at Woodloft (my home.)

I started with a really large planter that will be the Goddess of Winter Solstice. I will try to find artifacts to add to her when completed so that she is regal and fits the title. She is much larger than my other planters. Can’t wait to fire and compete her.

Painting using encaustic wax and oils placed on chair

My energy is flowing strong right now and I’ve also started several other very different kinds of art. For example. I am planning on writing a book on encaustic wax with oils soon and was experimenting with the piece below. I placed her onto a chair in my studio and another idea occurred to me. Why not make her into a chair back. So now I’m looking for interesting chairs in which to place more pieces like her (like I need more chairs around Woodloft!)

Close-up

Full view

Here is another example of a painting I created using Jane DesRosier’s method that I learned in her class. I named this one “I Remember Union.” She is slated to be placed in “One Block East” Gallery in downtown Roanoke, Virginia.

Close-up of I Remember Union. World images of faces and events surround her

I love it when the creative juices flow, don’t you? My energy level is very, very high, which could be attributed to the incredible dynamics that stemmed from the students of my first residential sculpture school. The combined personalities of the students generated such vigor and power that I do believe it still resonates in my studio! I’ve already started planning for the class in Sculpting the Figure in Clay, which will be held next July.

Happy creating to all in the beautiful autumn ahead.

Full view of I Remember Union

FIRST RESIDENTIAL SCULPTURE CLASS

2011-08-17T07:56:00.001-04:00

FIRST RESIDENTIAL SCULPTURE CLASS

Students begin difficult "Goddess" sculpture

Artist and blogger, Judy Wise, made the statement in one of her posts, “Falling in love with students, encouraging them and encouraging myself to take whatever path beckons…” I agree with her completely. If it is possible to fall in love with a class of students, it happened here at Woodloft. I said from the beginning that I just knew very special women would gather here for my first Residential sculpture class. Sure enough, I was blessed to have four fun loving, metaphysically minded and talented students.

Excitement was in the air as I was getting ready for these special women. I do mean excitement. What they didn’t know was that just 3 weeks before the class, my swimming pool decided to give up the ghost. It collapsed with age. That meant I had to find contractors to rebuild my pool and the decking surrounding it. I knew it could be done and I knew it would be done but there were some tense moments. There was just no way I was going to bring my guests here without my swimming pool up and running!

Joe Light delivers sunflowers

Joe Light, whom I jokingly call, Mr. Flower Power, delivered gorgeous sunflowers for the guests to enjoy. Joe can be seen selling his flowers on the Roanoke City Market every Saturday.

Truffles from Chocolate Paper

I purchased chocolate truffle candy from Chocolate Paper, also found on the City Market

Granola breakfast in mason jars and fancy labels

Blogger, Sheree, from Raven Moon Magic sent me lovely stickers that she created and I decided to add them to the granola jars I stored in my refrigerator for breakfasts. Somewhere I read about how fun it would be to place granola with fruit and yogurt, into these jars.

I also quilted face totes to hold each students supplies.

Quilted "face" totes

Finally, the time had arrived. The first student to arrive was Trish who is shown below enjoying appetizers and a margarita.

Trish is greeted by a margarita upon arrival

Each student was given a welcoming caftan to wear for our evening activities, which included drumming with Rudy Saunders. We were amazed at his ability to drum for hours.

Beth adorned in caftan

Laura,of Art From Trails End wears caftan and Goddess Ceremonial Necklace

Rudy shares drumming and stories

On another night, we watched Practical Magic and signed PritiLisa's “Book of Shadows” before beginning our drumming ceremony.

Lisa's "Book of Shadows" placed on top of African drum

Close-up reads "Harm None"

We chanted as we drummed to "Ancient Mother" by Robert Gass, which was recommended by Julie from When the Spirit Moves Me.

Glorious food was served throughout the week by our chef, Stratton St. Clair, including homemade pizzas and I created the desserts to accompany the meals.

Stratton and Diane, a member of our Little Supper Club, prepared homemade pizzas

Diane works on getting pizzas ready for party

Shrimp for alfredo

My Le Gateau Sans Rival dessert

Chicken with forty cloves of garlic being prepared

No one said sculpting is easy and the first two days of the class had the students hopping. I guess I should have mentioned in my brochure that I’m a bit hyper and I definitely crack the whip.

Laura works on bas-relief

Beth works on her "selke" doll

Leslie works on her Goddess sculpture

Trish beginning Goddess sculpture

Beth with sculpture

Laura prepares clay for sculpture

It was not all work though. Ella, my water aerobic’s instructor made an appearance and taught a water class one afternoon.

Ella gives class a real work out.

Quiche luncheon served

Also, Patrick Beale arrived to give massages two nights. Beth was fortunate enough to have a 2 hour massage-it was the luck of the draw.

Patrick and Beth

Food lectures and techniques were given by the chef each lunchtime, including teaching how to make the components of his wonderful lasagna.

Stratton prepares his homemade lasagne noodles

Stratton demonstrates how to make homemade vanilla

Here we are at Roanoke's famous "Star" overlooking the valley

We traveled along the Blue Ridge Parkway with a stop at our Roanoke Star for a view of the valley. Our destination was to have lunch at a quaint vineyard and restaurant called Chateau Morrisette.

It was a beautiful day and we opted to have lunch on the large stone patio with a view of the Blue Ridge Mountains. It was a bit windy but we didn’t expect the gust that came out of nowhere to lift our red table umbrella completely out of the center of the table. Somehow, when I saw the umbrella swoop up, up and up, I found myself reaching out for the umbrella with my left hand (it pays to be ambidextrous) I was pulled upward with the umbrella (my arm that is) to the point where I looked as though I might swoop over the table and out into the vast mountain range below! Somehow I stopped the umbrella. When the management heard of what happened, they offered all of us a bottle of wine, compliments of the restaurant. We laughed for a long time afterward about the possibility of me flying among the clouds, red umbrella overhead and songs of “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious” were heard being sung from my car all the way home from the vineyard.

Famous red umbrella

We toured the controversial Taubman Museum and had lunch at the Hotel Roanoke. The Taubman is a fantastic piece of architecture that many in our area felt was too modern to be placed amid the old historic buildings downtown. I personally love it.

Museum picture with H and C coffee and mountain as a backdrop

We were all pretty tired by the time Lisa Plummer arrived at the studio to give a class in SoulCollage. She was rather glad we were relaxed because she said in choosing the pictures we were to gather for our collages, we would be more inclined to be working in our subconscious minds rather then methodically building a collage. As it turned out, we pieced together some incredible artwork, that when read, brought much insight to each of the group.

Lisa Plummer, SoulCollage teacher

The class worked diligently all week and produced an amazing array of finished sculptures including tall standing Goddesses, bas-reliefs and soul dolls.

Laura's finished Goddess

Beth's Celtic Bas-relief journal

Beth's Selke Goddess

Laura's perky bas-relief journal

Laura with all three finished sculptures

Trish and yours truly displaying her finished sculptures

Here Beth and I show off finished work

As you might have guessed, I will be giving the class again next summer with a few twists. I am thinking of having someone model for us as we sculpt. I may also be having a class in glass face mosaics. If you are interested in having me send you brochures on the upcoming classes for next summer, please e-mail me and I’ll send you information as soon as I put it all together with dates and activities. I will also be posting information on my Residential Classes found on the top right hand side of my blog.

I’m posting lots more pictures of the class below for those of you who are interested in seeing all the details.

Thanks for your patience in this very long post. Sorry I haven’t been around to visiting my favorite posts but as you can tell, I’ve been very, very busy. I am hoping to get around to see everyone this week and catch up!

SPELLBOUND

2011-07-26T09:01:00.000-04:00

SPELLBOUND

Spellbound painting-without light

Here is another painting I will be exhibiting at MoJo’s Café on August 4-Sept 4th. I used the Renaissance Oil method for this one and added my own collage work. I also added encaustic wax to the background along with a cold processed wax.

Original painting

When I took the painting outside to photograph, the light just poured across her face in a fashion that had me wishing I would have painted it that way. I may go back and add that light. What do you think? Do you like it with or without the light? I appreciate your input. It’s not too late for me to go back and paint in the light and this is not a bad idea for future paintings because this way, I will have the light already there in the picture and can decide if I like it or not. It might be a bit difficult to duplicate.

Full painting with light from sun streaking across

She is 12x24x 1 ½ “ and is on a heavy birch canvas. I have priced her at $245 and she will be available after the show. If you would like me to hold her for you, just e-mail me and we can go from there. I take all credit cards and Paypal.

Close-up

EARTH MOTHER

2011-07-20T06:34:00.001-04:00

EARTH MOTHER

"Earth Mother" Original painting

What would the earth look like if it were reborn? I think Earth Mother would give her bountiful mountains, cool streams, raging oceans, cold ice peaks and clear, fresh air. I recently read this quote by Joanna Macy. “The most remarkable feature of this historical moment on Earth is not that we are on the way to destroying the world. It is that we are beginning to wake up, as from a millennia-long sleep, to a whole new relationship to our world and ourselves and each other.” It was refreshing reading something positive about our environment.

I created Earth Mother after I wrote the story of her. I tried to convey movement and rebirth, regeneration and mystery. Below is the poem I wrote for her.

Earth Mother

There existed..

A mystical, lonely, dimensionless region in the universe.

Void of life… it waited.

Eons passed.

Black holes continued expanding and contracting in an endless universal dance.

Silence.

Earth Mother appeared.

The history of what she must endure was revealed to her. Centuries of war, famine, abuse, and still a need prevailed.

A plan emerged to sanctify the abyss.

She drew together the winds, the seas, the sun baked muds of universes past and most importantly, the stones, who were at one time humans.

The emptiness was filled. A new beginning…Once again,

The earth was born…

~Cheryl Dolby~

Close-up

She looks rather surreal in the evening light

Earth Mother will be part of a collection I am presenting as guest artist for MoJo Café for the month of August. If you are interested in purchasing her, she is priced at $235.00 She is 18x24x2” and will be available after the show on Sept 15th. Let me know and I’ll hold her for you with a sold sign attached. Just e-mail me for more details. Thanks so much.

THE ARTIST AND THE CHEF

2011-07-14T06:56:00.003-04:00

THE ARTIST AND THE CHEF

Typical lunch: Curried Fire Roasted Soup with Grilled Tomato and Pesto Sandwiches

With a little less than a month to go, preparations are well under way for my Residential Sculpture School. Excitement and activity abounds here at Woodloft, the name I have given my home. (I believe that you should name anything you love.)

The hardest part for me is cleaning my studio! I'm almost finished

Another view of the studio

My friend, Stratton Wayne St. Clair, will provide us with lovely meals for the 7 day class. Each week he comes over and familiarizes himself with my kitchen. This week, he came up with another of his great ideas. We planned for him to give a small cooking class by showing students how he makes his spectacular, one of a kind, lasagna, each day at lunch. We have now decided to label his teaching time,“Lunchtime with the Chef.” He will teach the students some of his flavor tricks each day as well. Listed below are examples of what we will learn besides making the lasagna. For those of you who want to be here vicariously, and those of you who like to read cookbooks, as I do, I have posted the menu for the class.

Stratton prepares ingredient shopping list

Lunchtime lessons:

How to make your own vanilla.
Peach vinegar
Blueberry vinegar
Homemade ricotta cheese
Smoked sea salts

Lunches:

Muffuletta

Curried Fire Roasted Tomato Soup w Grilled Tomato and Pesto Sandwiches

Linguine with a Sicilian Pistachio and Almond Pesto with salad and bread

Quiche four ways: Canadian Bacon and Swiss... Brocolli and Cheddar... Crabmeat and
Shrimp with Chives... Grilled Vegetables and Herbs with salad

Garlicy and Lemony Broiled Shrimp Scampi with Spicy Spinach and Tomatoes plus a coarse country bread.

2 Lunches at the vineyard and market

For Dinner we are having:

Medallions of Fillet Migion with Lobster Tails in a Newburg Sauce with pan seared Asparagus finished with fresh squeezed orange juice and Asiago Cheese and Roasted New Red Potatoes

Pizza Four Ways: Pizza Neapolitiano (Fresh tomato slices, Basil leaves and Fresh Mozzarella)... Wild Mushroom Pizza... Pepperoni Pizza... Pizza of pan seared grape tomatoes... cheese... olives and shredded Arugula

Chicken with Tomato Onion Gravy with Basmati rice... Tomato, Cucumber and Yogurt salad... Garlic Na Nan and Mint Chutney

Fresh Tuna Steaks Adriadic style with a salsa of olives, capers, tomatoes and basil... White Beans tossed with Garlic, Rosemary and Extra Virgin Olive oil and a salad of Tart Greens with Parmesan and Proscuitto and a warm balsamic dressing

Pulled Pork Bar-b-que (with Chicken for those who don't eat pork) with a homemade tomato Bar-b-que sauce... cole slaw... collard greens and corn on the cob

Chicken with 40 Cloves of Garlic with French Bread and a salad of Mixed Greens, Smoked Salmon, Parmesan Cheese and Black Olives

Lasagna with homemade spinach noodles... homemade Ricotta Cheese... and Heirloom tomato and sausage sauce with a mixed green salad and bread.

W. Stratton

In the meantime, I have been getting Woodloft ready for the class, all the while sampling Stratton's delicious offerings. (Poor me)

Picnic table overlooking pool

Upper deck overlooking the pool

Front deck

Herbs ready for the picking. The chocolate mint is for mint tea, one of the students favorites

Pool and Tiki bar-there will be a big surprise here-I HOPE!!!

BURNING BOWLS

2011-07-06T07:42:00.000-04:00

CEREMONIAL BURNING BOWLS

Ceremonial Burning Bowls

Unity Church has a special ceremony each New Year’s Eve. A large bowl is placed at the altar and each member of the church is asked to write down problems or vices they wish to annihilate from their lives.. It could be a wish to quit smoking or drinking. It might be a desire to loose weight or to quit any of a number of addictions. Each person places their list into the bowl and at midnight, the bowl is lit. Everyone watches as the fire burns away all the troubles.

Burning Bowl number 1 "Bronwyn" Approx 6" w x 6" d x 9" h $58.00

Sold. Thank you Dorothy and Cherie!

Years ago, I decided to make small, individual burning bowls. They were a big hit but since they take quite a bit of time to create, I haven’t made them for a long time. Prompted by one of my customers, I decided to give them a go again. So. Here they are. Hope you like them.

Close-up of glass bottom

I created them with stoneware clay. I cut and placed stained glass in the bowl area and then fired in my kiln. After the firing, I embellished them with all sorts of mystical and mysterious looking objects.

Burning Bowl number 2 "Maeve" Approx. 9" w x 9"d x 10" h $86.00

I never know what will emerge from my kiln when I open the door. One time, one of the faces fell flat down and was forever immortalized in glass. Another time, the glass did not melt properly and was sticking up here and there. I never know, even though I do everything exactly the same for each firing. There are technical reasons for it I’m sure, like maybe the temperature of one of the rings in the kiln wasn’t hot enough or maybe the glass was too dense or perhaps the clay not dried enough. Who knows. That is part of the reason I don’t make them too often. This particular batch turned out great and all 4 are for sale. You’ll notice that I made one large one for those of us who seem to have an abundance of problems they’d like to see gone from their life!

Full view of Maeve

Burning Bowl number 3 "Azar" 5" w x 6" d x 11" h $54.00

Burning Bowl number 4 "Brighid" 5" w x 5" d x 9" h $54.00

I've decided to give my students a choice of making either a planter or a burning bowl during the sculpture class I will be giving in August. By the way, there is one more space left!

All are for sale. Please e-mail me for any questions or to purchase. I take all major credit cards and Paypal. Thank you!

THE LACE READER

2011-07-01T06:14:00.000-04:00

THE LACE READER

The Lace Reader 16”x20”

Every once in awhile I will read a book that stays with me long after I read the last page. The Lace Reader, by Brunonia Barry, was just such a book. I was so impressed with the women of Ipswich that I felt a need to tell their story through a collaged painting.

Here is an excerpt from the book:

“The Lace Reader must stare at the piece of lace until the pattern blurs and the face of the Seeker disappears completely behind the veil. When the eyes begin to fill with tears and the patience is long exhausted, there will appear a glimpse of something not quite seen. In this moment an image will begin to form.in the space between what is real and what is only imagined.”

close-up

“Each reader must choose a piece of lace. It is hers for life. It might be a pattern handed down through the generations or a piece chosen by the Reader for it’s beauty and familiarity. Many Readers prefer the handmade laces, particularly those of old Ipswich or the laces made today by the women of Yellow Dog Island.”

After a few false starts, it became clear to me which direction I wanted to take with the collage. I wanted her to be mysterious and to have the look of a seer, for surely these women of Ipswich are clairvoyant. Even though the story takes place in Salem, Massachusetts, a place steeped in witch lore, my woman looks like she might have emerged from Casablanca, Kashmir, Istanbul, Madagascar or Ethiopia.

In the garden

My regular readers will probably notice the change in palette I have used on this collage. Lately, I’ve been using oils for most of my paintings and collages but I was so impressed with the results of a few blogger friends out there who took Jane DesRosier’s class, that I wanted to give her subtle palette a try. I very much enjoyed the lessons. I recommend it to anyone who is interested in shaking up their own artwork a bit. I hesitated signing up for several weeks because I know that often times when you take a class, you tend to pick up the style of the teacher and I like my work to be clearly mine. Jane is generous in her teaching and encourages her students to give her method a go. I tried to put my own spin on Jane’s teachings and hope that future collages will reflect even more change and growth.

“There is lace in every living thing: the bare branches of winter, the patterns of clouds , the surface of water as it ripples in the breeze….Even a wild dog’s matted fur shows a lacy pattern if you look at it closely enough.”

Lace Reader can be purchased directly from me. Just e-mail me for details or through my ebay listing. Price: $325.00 Thank you so much.

I like the way she looks with an orange background.

FILET MIGNON WITH LOBSTER NEWBURG SAUCE

2011-06-21T08:03:00.005-04:00

Filet Mignon
with Lobster Newburg Sauce

Filet Mignon with Lobster Newburg Sauce, Asiago Asparagus in Orange Sauce and Roasted Potatoes

Yum! Best word to describe the delicious meal that chef Stratton prepared for my son Charlie and me last night. Stratton is preparing his menu for the all-inclusive sculpture class that I will be having here at my home (Woodloft) in August. The plan is that he comes over every once in awhile and cooks one of the dishes he will be creating for the class so he can familiarize himself with my kitchen and my fancy, yet oh so temperamental, appliances. Tonight, he made Filet Mignon with a delicate Lobster Newburg sauce. He accompanied it with broiled, herbed potatoes and asparagus with an asiago orange sauce.

Charlie enjoys first bite. I think this picture says it all!

The first thing Stratton did when he stepped through the door was to hand me an electric knife sharpener. He said my knives were so dull that he’d have a hard time cutting butter with it. I have to admit, after using those hand held sharpeners, the electric one made a huge difference. My knives are so sharp right now that I just know if I drop one on my toe, the knife will go right through it. I guess many of us are guilty of not keeping sharp knives. I am amazed at how much easier my kitchen chopping is going now that my knives are lethal weapons.

Stratton says that he really doesn’t consider himself a gourmet cook. He just likes to make interesting (and very tasty) food. He says it’s a step up from everyday cooking but not fancy. I sort of disagree with him on that point. It seems to me that everything he cooks is up a notch and is definitely in the gourmet category. Here is the recipe for this wonderful dish. Since Stratton doesn’t write anything down, not even a grocery list, I tried to figure it out as he cooked. I sent him a copy and I was completely wrong! Here is the correct recipe…imagine he actually DID write it down and e-mail it to me!

Stratton Preparing Sauce

Filet Mignon with Lobster Newburg Sauce

Ingredients:

3 lobster tails
3 filet mignon steaks 1 1/2 “ thick
Asiago cheese
Asparagus
New potatoes
2 oranges
Cream Sherry-1/2-1 cup
Cream fraiche
Red wine vinegar
Chives
Oregano
Olive oil
Paprika
3 cloves garlic
S and P

Method:

Pour olive oil in a baking pan. whisk together 1/2 cup oil...1/4 cup red wine vinegar...1+tablespoon brown mustard. Add 3 cloves minced garlic... chives, salt, pepper and fresh oregano (actually any combination of spices work nicely)... quarter the red potatoes and toss in the dressing... bake at 375 cut sides up for 1 hour.

In the meantime:

Season the medallions of meat with a generous portion of salt and pepper on both sides. Heat the oil till hot but not smoking. Sear the meat on both sides until desired tenderness. Remove from pan and set aside... add the 1 cup of Sherry along with the lobster shells and simmer until red... about 10 minutes max. Remove the shells and reduce down to a quarter cup then add the cream fresh and paprika along with the lobster meat. IF the sauce needs to be thickened more have equal portions of butter and flour mixed together and formed into tablespoon sized balls and add 1 at a time to the sauce until it thickens. Remove from heat.

Heat the olive oil in a pan until hot but not smoking. Add the asparagus and sear until bright green. Sprinkle with the cheese and add the orange juice and cover then turn off the heat and allow to steam while you plate up the meal...

Place some of the potatoes on a plate with some of the drizzlings from the pan... place the medallions of meat on it followed by equal portions of the lobster meat and some of the cream sauce... finish by adding the asparagus and serve.

It is a good idea to sauté lobster shells or shrimp shells into sauces for extra seafood flavor.

Filet Mignon

Preparation of Potatoes

Asiago Asparagus with Orange Sauce

As you can imagine, we did choose this as one of the meals for the class.

WELCOME! MANILA ENVELOPES

2011-06-14T06:35:00.000-04:00

WELCOME!

MANILA ENVELOPES

Four welcoming envelopes I created for the students

The welcome packets for my upcoming sculpture class in August are finished and ready to mail out to my four special students. Since we will be sculpting lots of faces, I used my sculpted and painted faces as the basis for the manila envelopes. Now for the task of deciding which envelope to send to which student? I think I will use my intuition on this decision.

I used an image of one of my tall standing sculptures and eyes of another one

I loved the picture of the columns so added one of my sculptures and mysterious face

Magazine images, stamps and image of one of my paintings

Labyrinth from my laundryroom plus faces and sculptures

In addition to our sculpture class, I was able to lock in several exciting visiting guests. Lisa Plummer of “Groggy Froggy” fame, has agreed to teach the class her method of Soul Collage. Also, Rudy Sanders, spectacular drummer, will teach a class in drumming with a drumming ceremony to follow. Ella, water aerobic instructor extraordinaire, will give us a water work out one afternoon. I was also lucky enough to have Patrick Beale agree to give each student one of his spectacular Swedish based massages. Patrick has been a masseuse for over 15 years and believe me, you will feel pampered and relaxed after one of his sessions. I have one more opening left in the class so if you have been hesitating, now is the time to check out the details by clicking here

I'm heading for the post office right now. Sure hope the students like them!

LET ME FLY!

2011-06-08T07:25:00.000-04:00

LET ME FLY!

Mixed Media Oil Collage

Close-up of "Let Me Fly" Please double click on the pictures for better view

I’ve been in the mood for lots of colorful creations lately. Maybe the spring flowers have brought on this frame of mind or maybe it’s the butterflies that I’m anticipating seeing soon. I purposely plant flowers to attract those wonderful, vibrant creatures, like the buddleia or butterfly bush.

I thought I had a plan in painting my butterfly girl collage, but she seemed to have a mind of her own and took me in a completely different direction. I know that has happened to most of my readers out there in blogland. So..as we used to say way back when, you've got to go with the flow. Actually, she doesn't even look like my work!

Close-up of butterfly hat-left over from the Royal Wedding.

I painted her face using my Renaissance Oil technique and the rest of her body is acrylic and felt. I used pop up butterflies for her hat. For the background, I used a spackle compound followed by deco crackle and stain. It has an interesting texture to it. It feels entirely different to the touch than when I add the crackle to paper. The entire collage is on a 3-dimensional canvas

Close-up of angled frame

For the saying, I found it online but the author was unknown. I couldn’t fit the long saying on her so I changed it a bit and came up with “ How does one become a butterfly? You have to give up being a caterpillar and…fly” So true, don’t you think? Set your goals high and don’t let anyone, anyone talk you out of them. Choose to fly!

Then, just for the fun of it, I made one of my Philosophy Paper Art Dolls to match! She has the correct saying in it’s entirety on her.

Paper Art Doll

Close-up of "Fly" Paper Art Doll

They are both for sale. Although the painting took me a very long time to do, I had so much fun with her that I’m lopping off many of those fun hours. I’d like $125. for her and if you love her…this is a real bargain. She is 12x24.”

“Fly” paper art doll is $38.00 and about 10" high. I take all the credit cards and Paypal and can ship worldwide. E-mail me and we can go from there.

Thanks so much!

GRANDMOTHER TREE WALL SCULPTURE

2011-06-01T10:01:00.010-04:00

GRANDMOTHER TREE

WALL SERIES

"Grandmother Tree"

I’m not sure when I first began my “Grandmother Tree” series but it makes sense that I did. I love the trees and have surrounded myself with them for as long as I can remember. I write about them, read about them and view them daily from the tree house I call Woodloft, which is my home.

Here is the story I have written and associated with my series.

“Grandmother Tree”

~Cheryl Dolby~

close-up

Outside view

If you would like to read more about this series you can check it out here where I show various other trees that I have created.

My grandmother tree has driftwood from a lake nearby, moss from Woodloft, one of my original clay faces and various other woody type items. Hope you like her. She is 5”x8” and priced at $68.00 You can e-mail me if you are interested in purchasing her. I take all major credit cards or Paypal. I have also listed her on ebay.

Thanks so much!

Face Planters

2011-05-27T07:11:00.001-04:00

FACE PLANTER

“SHE WHO SURROUNDS HERSELF IN BEAUTY”

Here she is surrounded by a garden of zinnias

Maybe I’m wrong, but I’ve always said that materialism and spiritualism can mean the same thing. The wonderful fountain that plays a background melody in my garden and allows me to meditate upon life, the flowers that adorn every corner of the grounds at Woodloft (my home), the rock walls that hold the soil at bay and the sculptures that beautify each walkway, all play a part in spiritualism. Yet, they were made at a price or purchased. Where do we draw the line between those two words? Materialism/spiritualism?

Full view

Here is the poem I wrote for her:

“She Who Surrounds Herself in Beauty”

……Brings all of nature’s bounty to her abode. She calls upon the earth, the mountains and the ocean to share with her their abundance. She takes no more than she is offered for she knows that life gives what is needed. She has hand crafted everything in her possession or has received as a gift those items that were carefully and with love created…therein her life is made sacred..by all these things.

~Cheryl Dolby~

Another close-up

The planter I have named, “She Who Surrounds Herself in Beauty,” reflects my feelings on this subject. I used lots of gold, bronze and silver to adorn her. She sits quietly in the garden and adds a feeling of atmosphere to her quiet surroundings. We will be creating a planter similar to this one at my residential sculpture class this summer. I am accepting 5 students and have 2 openings left. You can read all about it here.

At an angle-side view

She is 12” high and 5” wide. I used stoneware clay and fired her at a very high temperature so that she can remain outside all summer long and can be watered without fear because I used Aquarium glue which is the same glue I used on my art car b-dazle I know this glue works!

I’ve just listed her on e-bay. You can check her out there and e-mail me if you’d like to purchase her. She is $85.00. I take all credit cards, checks and Paypal. I am happy to ship internationally as well.

Thanks so much.

ANGEL OF SACRIFICE

2011-05-20T07:22:00.009-04:00

ANGEL OF SACRIFICE

Angel of Sacrifice Oil Collage

Sold. Thank you Dawn!

ANGEL OF SACRIFICE

Silently,

She lies cocooned beneath the gossamer wings of her guardian angel.

She does not move, for fear her angel will leave her
Alone
To face the universe of memories
That abide in her mind.

Unrequested,

the angel came with strength, wisdom, love and a promise to lift her sorrow.

Luminescent prisms flow in the distance
Becoming brighter and clearer as she travels.

Seeds of light burst round her in an
Unwavering fashion. Her angel by her side, they transcend toward a presence brilliant and familiar.

She is teased with leaving behind the heaviness of her life and escaping to a place of peace.

But…knowing in her heart that it is not the time…for there is much more love to give before she can go home again…

She returns.

~Cheryl Dolby~

I think the antique frame came from Mexico

An old almanac that I had stashed away in my studio was the inspiration for this angel collage. I love to read measurements and usages from these old tomes. This one in particular has details of herbs used in the early 1900’s. I used it for the background and added crackle glaze to it. I painted her face using the Renaissance Oil method and made her three dimensional halo using the technique I learned while taking a fresco class in Italy a few years back.

Close-up of almanac and crackle glaze

Close-up of halo I learned to make while in Italy

I have used my Angel of Sacrifice story with many of my sculptures and paintings. It has special meaning to me and I think it speaks of many women.

I have priced "Angel" at $325. She is 17x 21". If you are interested in purchasing her, please e-mail me and we can go from there. I take all major credit cards and Paypal. You can also purchase her on ebay by clicking here. This is my first listing on e-bay. Wish me luck! Thanks so much!

FRIDA ART BOXES

2011-05-09T14:58:00.027-04:00

FRIDA ART BOXES

A TALE OF TWO RECYCLED ART BOXES

Recycled Frida Art Box

For as long as I can remember, I have enjoyed recycling just about anything. I especially like to recycle discarded pieces and turn them into works of art. When I found two cigar boxes recently, the shapes basically dictated their use to me.

The first box is about 1” deep, which is a rare find. I knew I wanted to use my Frida digital image to create a box in which to keep art pencils or pens.

Quilted interior of box

Can you guess what I used for the clasp on the lid?

I just knew this old opener would work it’s way into my art..Of course, if things get tough, you can always use it to open a beer!

For the inside, I used a discarded quilt jacket. It is so pizzazzy and goes well with the bright colors of the box.

Quilted interior and another image from my Frida Original Oil Collage

For the feet, I used 4 wooden pieces that I found at a flea market some time ago. I have several more and now I know they make a perfect flat base for a box.

Bright yellow wooden feet

Close-up of flowers that have applied with encaustic wax

My Frida Art Box is for sale for $42.00. It is 2" D x 8 1/2" W x 9" H. Art pencils are not included.

The second box I found really gave me inspiration. I love the chunky square shape. To me, it looked like a sewing accessory box.

I was going to add a clay bas-relief of Frida but decided to experiment with canvas. This experiment has given me all sorts of ideas of other ways to use the canvas. My method was to make a digital print of Frida on canvas paper. I then painted over the picture with oil paint. This gave the print a very soft, rich look. It almost reminds me of cross stitch fabric. I used the print on the recessed front along with small glass tiles.

Frida Sewing Box

I used a fabric I had leftover from another art project to the inside and added quilt batting to the top so that needles can be stored there.

Floral fabric inside of box

View of side of the box

My Frida Sewing Box is for sale for $38.00 and is 2 1/2 " H by 5 1/2 square.

If anyone is interested in either of these art boxes, please just e-mail me and we can go from there. I take all credit cards, paypal, or checks. Thanks so much.

RENAISSANCE OIL COLLAGE-GENTLE SPIRIT

2011-05-06T05:52:00.001-04:00

GENTLE SPIRIT

Gentle Spirit Renaissance Oil collage

Spring has inspired me to create an oil collage of a young woman who looks a bit like a fairy or wood nymph. At first I was going to name her “Elfin”, which seemed to fit her but then I decided on Gentle Spirit, from my book “She Who Whispers.” She is highly textured with flowers from my garden and a crackled effect. She definitely has the look of one "not yet injured by life."

GENTLE SPIRIT

The seed pod opened-a woman child emerged. She was not yet complete…still in the process of becoming finished. She was innocent, having the quality of one who has not yet been injured by life. No soul searching, no vision quest. She was just content to be here and to be a living part of the great mother earth.

~Cheryl Dolby~

I placed flowers along the edge of the painting

I used encaustic wax to attach and preserve these flowers, which are from my garden here at Woodloft.

I was very pleased with the large crackle effect.

Gentle Spirit is 18x24” and priced at $290. Shipping is included to anywhere in the continental USA. I accept checks, MC, Visa, Discover and American Express or paypal. I can also send to anywhere in the world and will be happy to give you a shipping price to your country. Please click on my e-mail to make arrangements for sale. Alternately, you can view Gentle Spirit on my Etsy shop for more details by clicking here.

JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH

2011-05-02T06:34:00.000-04:00

Johann Sebastian Bach

Renaissance Oil Collage of Johann Sebastian Bach

What a surprise! After studying Bach on Google, I discovered that he was a numerologist. I learned that his fugues and cannons are mathematical in nature and that he even played games with his music. A sheet of his music can be turned upside down and be completely unchanged! He was obsessed with the number 14 and wore only jackets with that number of buttons. In numerology, which I still don’t know a lot about, the name Bach supposedly is equated to these numbers:

B=2

A=1

C=3

H=8

Added together, they total 14. JSBach= 41 I created his musical signature and placed it on his sleeve shown below.

Musical signature Bach used on his compositions

Number 14 and mirror number 41, were Bach’s favorites. I decided to add that signature to my painting along with showing the 14 buttons on his jacket. I also added a complex mathematical symbol with the numbers and musical notes most often found in his compositions.

Mathematical symbols I used to depict his genius

Fourteen buttons on his coat-I placed a small image of Bach in the center of each

Here are a few basics on Bach’s life. He was born in Germany in 1885 and lived to be 65 years old. He was a virtuoso organist and composer and has been hailed as a genius whose work represents the peak of the Baroque era. He was taught to play the harpsichord and violin by his father. Bach married twice with a total of 20 children, many of whom became famous musicians in their own right. Bach’s numerological symbols still amaze musicians today and many consider him to be the greatest composer of all times.

I have now finished 3 of the 5 composers I plan to do. Next is Chopin.

Thanks everyone for your most appreciated comments on what has been for me a real stretch in my artistic endeavors!

FRIDA KAHLO "GYPSY WOMAN " CLOAK HANGERS

2011-04-25T06:42:00.001-04:00

FRIDA "GYPSY WOMAN" CLOAK HANGERS

Frida "gypsy woman" cloak hangers

Since I’m suffering from Frida mania right now, I’ll be posting items as I finish creating them. I Just completed 3 Frida “Gypsy Woman” cloak hangers. If you’d like to see details of how I created them, please click here. I will sell two of them and keep the third one to place in the closet of the Tuscany Suite so that my students can enjoy it during the August sculpture class

Number 1 - I used antique lace doilies, canvas and digital image of my Frida

Back of number 1

Number 2 - I used digital flowers from my garden, canvas and oil paint

Back of number 2

Number 3-created with cloth and lace

Back of number 3

If you are interested in purchasing one of my cloak hangers, please e –mail me and we can go from there. I have priced them at $38.00. I’ll be glad to stop by the post office and get a shipping price for you to your particular oountry or state. Thanks so much.

FRIDA KAHLO!

2011-04-18T16:06:00.003-04:00

FRIDA!

FRIDA MANIA!

Frida Kahlo Rivera-mixed media original oil collage

Mexican icon, Frida Kahlo, has been represented throughout the years in many different mediums. I never really thought too much about her until a few years ago when I had the pleasure of taking a tour of Mexico. While in Mexico City, I visited the museum of Diego Rivera. It was there that I became attracted to the busy look of his fabulous paintings. Frida attended the renowned National Preparatory School where she met Diago. He was painting a mural in the lecture hall. They later married only to have an on again off again marriage. I started to study their lives and now I see what all the fury concerning Frida is about.

Close-up

Diego Rivera's mural in Mexico City, Mexico

Magdalena Carmen Frida Kahlo was born in 1907 in Mexico City. She contracted polio as a child and walked with a limp because of the damage to her leg and foot. As luck would have it, she was forced to leave her study of medicine to begin painting after a terrible street car accident immobilized her. Being forced to remain in bed in excruciating pain for long periods at a time, she chose to explore the world of art and became quite famous.

Frieda is richly decorated in vibrant oil color and embellishments

In creating my own Frida oil painted collage, I decided to vicariously put myself in her shoes, pick up her palatte and see through her eyes as I painted. I chose to create a painting in the fashion she would have used. She said when interviewed, “I paint myself because it I know myself better than anyone else.” She created 143 paintings and of those 55 are self portraits.

Crackled flowers

I found an old frame at the flea market and painted it in bright Mexican looking colors. I glued digital images of flowers behind the area where I roughed in the face. I modge podged the flowers, crackled them and then oil painted several in and around the crackles to create depth. I then finished painting her face, neck and dress in oils.

Wooden palette

I was given a beautiful palette for Mother’s Day last year, but after taking an oil painting class, I found that it is much more cost-effective and much easier to use the disposable palettes. I decided to use my wooden palette as a focal point in the painting. I hand wrote two of Frida's quoted sayings in Spanish. I also added two paint brushes that were my father, James Galloway’s. He was a well known landscape artist. I inherited all of his art materials when he passed away several years ago. Some of the brushes were dried out and I wanted to put them to good use.

Beautiful painting found at resort in Playa Del Carmen, Mexico

Another busy but beautiful painting

I wanted the painting to look very much like one Frida would have created of herself. I was also influenced by two paintings in the hotel where I stayed in Playa Del Carmen this past winter. Yes. "Busy" is in with the old Mexican artists and mine is certainly no exception.

Finished Frida oil collage measuring 36" wide x 66" high! She's larger than she looks here.

My Frida is standing rather stoic (that is the way Frida usually painted herself,) with the bright flowers and traditional Mexican dress she most often chose to wear. The look she conveys in her paintings is of a surrealistic nature. She said. “I never painted dreams. I painted my own reality.”

I printed her biography in Spanish and crackled it, placed it on the dress, used gesso to splash over it and little by little…she started to come to life.

She was a long time in the making but finally I can present her for show. I hope you like her. I plan to place her in my kitchen for now. I just know I’ll love the color and life she will add.

FRIDA MANIA!

Frida sculpture and oil collage shown together in my studio

I used lavish embellisments to adorn her hair and neck

Now..here is where the real Frida mania comes in. I didn’t stop at the painting. I also sculpted Frida, I created journals of her, placed her on my “gypsy woman" cloak hangers, made art paper dolls and various other Frieda items. I’ll be doing a post of them soon, but for now, here is a picture of the sculpture I created of her, which is for sale. I have priced her at $300. She is 23” tall and 12” wide. I can ship her anywhere and give you an estimate on shipping price. Please e-mail me if you are interested and we can go from there.

Another view of Frida sculpture

And yet another view

GODDESS FACE PLANTERS

2011-04-06T07:02:00.000-04:00

GODDESS FACE PLANTERS

I have named this exotic planter "Minerva" She is the Goddess of Wisdom, Medicine and Crafts

Finally! I have finished my Goddess clay face planters and have them ready to display and sell at our local farmer's market. Sales are usually very good for the planters but this year our market is under construction and I’m not sure if we will get our usual crowds. The renovation has been planned in segments. First, our market square building will be completely revamped. This building held some really quaint shops and restaurants but the building itself is ancient and in need of some major changes. Next, our Center in the Square Museum will be renovated to include a butterfly garden, an aquarium and a roof top restaurant.

Here are some of the planters all ready for their showing this weekend

One thing about life that we can be sure of is change. Even though most of us cling to keeping things constant, change can be a good thing. It has been a struggle down on the market for all of us. Many have lost their businesses because of the construction. I will loose the gallery that I adore since it will now become divided into upscale high end shops, and I will have to either find a new gallery or hope for some big market or Etsy sales when I remove all that I have displayed there. You’ll probably be seeing a lot of my gallery work on my blog very soon.

More glitzy planters ready for the market

Back to the planters. I didn’t mean to divert because I really am excited that I have the planters ready for Saturday. This winter, (I always sculpt the planters over the winter) I threw my heart and soul into these planters. They are very different. I probably should have waited to take pictures of them in my booth where they would be in full daylight, but I was so anxious to show them that I took all shots from my studio. You will notice that some of the planters are similar to the ones I will be teaching my students to sculpt this summer in my class. If you are interested in participating, please check out my sculpture school at the top of my right hand side bar. It will be an all–inclusive, meaning I have hired a chef to cook for us and I’m including all meals and beverages (including wine of course) and room accommodations, side trips and other instructors who will visit. Of course, I will be there 24/7 teaching. I have a swimming pool for evening swims. I’m accepting 5 students and have 3 already…so there are just two spaces left. Hope you will join us on August 8th-15th.

This planter is similar to the one we will make in my sculpture class

Back to the planters…there I go again. Anyway, I sculpted my planters using stoneware clay, fired them in the kiln at a high temperature and then adorned them with all sorts of embellishments I had in my studio.

Native American planter I have titled "Nampeyo"

I’m off and running now since one of my good customers is coming over today to get the first choice of planters for the year. Dreama says she likes the ones with the pot at the top of the head. I have several of those for her to choose from. I wonder which one she will take home to live with her.

Very rustic planter that looks as though she has been dredged from the earth. I've named her "Maeve" This is a Celtic name meaning mythical queen

Wiccan earth planter titled "Azura" meaning Sky Jewel

"Algoma" A native American name meaning Valley of the Flowers

"Tania" a fairy name meaning Fairy Queen

I added a bit of silver and gold to this one

Earth Angel

PYOTR TCHAIKOVSKY

2011-03-27T07:43:00.000-04:00

PYOTR TCHAIKOVSKY

COMPOSER SERIES II

Russian composer Pyotr (Peter) Tchaikovsky

I really enjoyed working on the Renaissance oil collage of Tchaikovsky. His music, such as Swan Lake and the 1812 Overture strikes a familiar note (excuse the pun) with most people. Once again, here is yet another composer who experienced a troubled life and who also died young at the age of 53.

Musical notes, using crackle technique, emphasize his "mind of music"

Tchaikovsky pursued a musical career by entering the Saint Petersburg Conservatory in Russia in 1862. He had great success and was loved by audiences around the world. On a more personal note, he was said to be a misogynist (he hated women.) He married one of his students but he never did live with her and left her shortly after the marriage. He was depressed and emotionally insecure a lot of the time. Wikepedia states that the contributing factors were his suppressed homosexuality and fear of exposure. He also lost his friendship with a long time patron which added to his depression in later years.

The beard was difficult but I finally got it

In creating Tchaikovsky, I painted entirely with oils in which I used the Renaissance Oil method. This method includes painting a first coat with oils. This is called a campitura. The next coat is called a dead painting, with a first and second painting after that, followed by glazing. It’s complicated but I feel that I can achieve a painting that has more “soul” than by using straight oils or acrylics.

Tchaikovsky was a fan of Shakesphere and created Romeo and Juliet symphony

Along with working on my composer series, I’m painting my first “Freida,” which I hope to post soon. She will be very different from my composer series. I am, however, using the Renaissance oil method again and I’m trying to convey as much emotion as I can into the face of this wonderful Mexican icon. I’ve started a sculpture to go along with it. They both are coming along very, very slowly. I feel like I must jump into her life and experience her agonies and joys vicariously and somehow show her passion for art and life. I must have corrected the sketches I did of her face at least 10 times now. I will continue until I’m sure I have captured the essence of “Freida.”

Claude Debussy

2011-03-17T12:21:00.000-04:00

CLAUDE DEBUSSY

COMPOSER SERIES

Finished Renaissance Oil Collage painting

What I love about being an artist is that whenever I decide to start a new series, I feel the need to learn all I can about the subject matter in which I am about to embark. Take this new composer series I have started for instance. Claude Debussy was the first composer chosen and as I stated in an earlier posting, he is the first painting I have ever created using a male as my subject. (I have sculpted males though) The reason for this is because most of my paintings and sculpture are accompanied by a story I have written and quite frankly, I don’t think I could write a "man" story. I don’t understand them well enough to capture the essence of what they are about.

Crackled musical score

In creating the painting, in which I used the Renaissance Oil method, I turned up my CD player and listened to “Clair De Lune” the entire time I painted. This piece, composed by Debussy is one of my favorites. It took me back to the early 1900’s when Debussy was composing some of his finest pieces.

Debussy started playing piano at the age of 7 and by the time he was ten, he showed very promising musical talent. By 1900, he had achieved great success in Paris with his opera, Pelleas et Melisande.

Old time sepia of a woman depicting the women in Debussy's life

I added a sepia picture of a young woman to the collage to represent the women in his life. He had two wives and several other entanglements including women. One can only read between the lines to know that after marrying twice and with one wife and a prior girlfriend both trying to commit suicide, he had to have led a complex life.

Close-up of depressed expression on Debussy's face

I painted a heavy brow to depict Debussy’s depression, which continued into his later life. He died of cancer at an early age in 1918 at the young age of 56. He was working on a series of chamber music at the time of his death. I wonder what magical compositions we have all missed because of his early death.

GYPSY WOMAN CLOAK HANGERS

2011-03-06T07:28:00.000-05:00

GYPSY WOMAN CLOAK HANGERS

Batik hanger

In my efforts to create beautiful items to pamper my students for my upcoming sculpture class, I thought about making cloak hangers. Not just any old coat hangers but “cloak” hangers. I created a few of them awhile back and really love using them.

Close-up of batik hanger. I created it by using a crayon batik

I found sturdy wooden hangers and cut canvas to fit. I attached the canvas with Yes glue. This is the best craft glue I know of for drying quickly and holding heavier papers together.

For the above hanger, I used photo copies of the labyrinth in my laundry room plus one of my Celtic planters.

Once the hangers were dry, I covered them with digital images of my work and quotations using Modge Podge to adhere.

Last, but not least, I added some spiffy looking jewelry on the top of the hanger and the gypsy comes to life. What fun it is for your guests to hang their coats, robes or even negligee’s on these fanciful hangers. I hope my students like them. I’ll be creating more with an Italian theme to go into the Tuscany Suite and others with a beach theme for the Cabana Suite.

Music Was My Refuge

Maybe you remember my crackled painting from a few weeks ago. I used a photo image and recrackled the hanger. This time I certainly got the crackles I was looking for.

I may offer some of the cloak hangers for sale if I find the time to create more of them. I'm thinking of creating several Freida hangers. Can't you just see her with flowers all around her face and a large colorful flower at the top of the hanger?

This image is from the tray that I created-I added extra lace to the hanger

Close-up of the lace added

Picasso Art Chair

2011-02-27T06:16:00.000-05:00

PICASSO ART CHAIR

Picasso Art Chair

Several weeks ago, Ro Brun of Ro brun Art posted a fantastic chair that she had re-furbished. I was so impressed that I immediately e-mailed her and asked for permission to downright copy her idea! She was so gracious. Actually,I tried hard not to copy what she did. I tried to do my own thing by using squares but they didn’t look right. I also made a point not to even look back at her post but those circles she used kept popping into my head. I have to admit the two chairs do look similar.

Close-up

Basically what Ro did was to take an old rundown office chair (mine was a leftover from my parents bar) and go to town painting it with acrylics. After the chair dried she used a mat varnish on it and it’s ready for many more years of wear. Now that is what I call recycling. One of Ro’s friends had just taken a similar old chair to the curb for pickup and when she saw what Ro had done, she brought it right back into her house to paint. Thanks for the inspiration Ro, you’re the greatest.

Back of chair

COMPOSER SERIES

2011-02-21T08:21:00.003-05:00

“MUSIC WAS MY REFUGE”

“Music was my refuge”

"I could crawl into the space between the notes and curl my back to loneliness" By Maya Angelou.

I’m working my way up to creating a new series. My son, Cameron, has commissioned me to create several large collages of famous composers. The first one will be of Claude Debussy. He composed Clair de lune, which happens to be my favorite classical song. Cameron and his girlfriend own “Singing Strings” They both play the piano and Nakisa plays the violin and teaches classes. They like the idea of placing paintings of famous composers all around their home and music studio. This series will be a challenge since the paintings/collages are to be quite large. I’m not sure whether to have musical notes peeking through the face of Debussy or whether to paint the portrait of Debussy using my newly learned technique, which is a very, very old technique, of Renaissance painting. I’m taking a course in it now and I was extremely surprised at how difficult and labor intensive this method is.

"Dead painting" My rendition of Joris Van Son's painting

The method includes starting with a campintura, which consists of darker tones and then works it’s way into what is called a “dead” painting and then goes on to two additional coats of paint. The old masters used natural pigments, which they had their assistants grind. At least I was able to use artist grade store bought oils for mine. I went through that pigment grinding technique when I was working on my 6’ fresco. Whew! My body still hurts from that challenge.

View showing wooden cradle

In the class I am taking, we were required to do a rendition of one of the Rennassiance masters. Joris Van Son was chosen. I worked for so many hours on this painting that it would be impossible to sell it. I’m not sure I could part with it anyway.

I’m going to continue to experiment with my women collages until I am sure I know which direction I’m heading with Debussey and then, after probably several attempts, I will create my first Renaissance style painting/collage of Debussy, which will be, by the way, the first male I will ever paint.. Should be interesting.

Side view- Notice how the notes drift through her face, making her look as though she were a zentangle

In the meantime, I’m offering for sale “Music was my Refuge.” She is 8x10” I painted her onto a birch paint panel that has a cradle edge for easier hanging. I hope you notice the crackles I was able to finally achieve on this piece. It is amazing how long it took me to figure out how to place crackles over paper so that the background shows through. I was always able to attain great crackles when I used paint in the background, but never when I wanted it clear. It took the help of several blogger friends. I want to thank Terra Sheridan, from
Terra Sheridan’s Musings Terra advised me to use Deckle One Step Crackle Gel. Diane, from My Art Journal uses Tim Holtz’s crackle paint. Lynn Stevens at Trash to Treasure has good luck with Tim Holtzs' paint too, and lastly, Moriah Butterfly from MLB Studio who not only sent me a detailed e-mail but who is going to create a video on how she crackles her wonderful folk art dolls.

Let me know if you are interested in this first original painting in my composer series. I realize “refuge” is not a composer but I'm sure you get the drift. I have priced her at $55. You can e-mail me for shipping details.

Oh, one last thing. There is an added bonus to my completing this painting. Cameron promised to learn how to play Clair de Lune for me. I'll definitely be working on it.

One World, One Heart

2011-01-31T03:00:00.008-05:00

ONE WORLD, ONE HEART

Welcome! Today, in honor of Lisa Swiftka’s One World, One Heart blogging event, I am giving away, as my door prize, one of my clay face planters. I created this planter by using stoneware clay and firing it in my kiln. It is similar to the ones I teach my students to make. I believe in naming and giving a story to each of the pieces I create. I have named my planter “Morning Song.” I used old watch parts and other ancient-looking embellishments to create a feeling of mystery and intrigue. I also used an old Aztec symbol which is perfect for the story.

Morning Song planter

Morning Song

She woke up this morning feelilng different. She heard the sounds of this morning and yet the sounds of many other lifetime mornings were returning.

She heard the infinite sound of distant runic bells, a call to alms, merchants voices echoing over the river nile, sheep bleating on a pastoral hillside, roosters, guns, flutes, chimes, laughter, and weeping... for she had lived all of these mornings and she had heard all of these sounds before. It was as if they were all becoming one great sound... one great morning.”.this” morning..and she knew that all the returns of mornings’ purpose was to teach her the uniqueness and significance of this morning... of now.

~Cheryl Dolby~

Although I’m a sculptor by trade, I have dabbled in countless mediums throughout the years. My blog reflects my interests in stained glass, mosaics, encaustic wax, weaving, journaling, doll making, cooking, soap and cream making, herbs and, of course, sculpture. When I was younger, I wanted to keep all my art techniques a secret so that I could wow my customers at art shows. Now that I am older and wiser, I find that I want to share my techniques with everyone who‘s interested.

Closeup of embellishments

The event is open to all active bloggers worldwide. In order to win “Morning Song” as part of One World, One Heart, make a comment in the comment box below this post before noon Eastern Standard Time on February 17th. If you don’t mind, you may include an email address or blog address in your comment through which I can reach you to obtain mailing information if you’re the winner. If you don’t want to leave contact information with your comment, just watch my blog on the evening of February 17th. At that time, I’ll declare the winner. You can email your mailing information to me then if you won the planter.

Thank you so much for visiting my blog. I hope you’ll come back often.

ANTIQUE WOODEN TRAY

2011-01-23T10:46:00.000-05:00

ANTIQUE WOODEN TRAY

Benedetta

Although this very ornate antique tray does not fit into my decorating theme for most of my house, it will be perfect for my newly renovated Tuscany Suite. I’m having students stay here for an all-inclusive sculpture class this summer and I want to give them every possible luxury.

Benedetta-ornate wooden tray

Benedetta, (that is the name I am giving her because I believe that anything worth owning is worth naming) was very easy to create. I found the wonderful tray at the flea market. I used a digital image of a spirited gal I painted last year. I had named the original “Tess” She even has tattoos! There is something innocent about her face though and I knew I could convert her into a beautiful Italian girl. My friend, Chrystal, gave me some absolutely beautiful delicate lace that her mother had collected. I placed it around the digital image and printed it once again. I cut a few pieces of the lace and used gel medium to glue down the entire collage.

Side view

After the collage dried, I added Tim Holtz’s crackle paint, heated it with my blow dryer. Then I dabbled the entire piece with gesso to give it an even more antique look.

Benedetta with bath soaps

I’ll be on the lookout for 2 more trays for the other bedrooms that will be used during the class. In the meantime, the only decision left is whether Benedetta will be offering exotic perfumes, soaps or wine and delicious truffles from our local candy store, “Chocolate Paper.”

Benedetta with exotic perfume

Benedetta with chocolate candy and wine

If you are interested in reading more about the class, please check out my website at the top of my sidebar titled “Cheryl Dolby’s School of Sculpture.” There are videos of the Tuscany Suite, Tuscany Annex and Cabana Suite. I am visualizing a lavish ocean tray there. I’m happy to announce that I only need two more students! Perhaps you will join me here at my home, Woodloft.

THANK YOU FILE FOLDERS

2011-01-19T08:31:00.000-05:00

THANK YOU FILE FOLDERS!

"Dreams" file folder, original artwork from Sharon Tomlinson

I’m still on a roll with my artsy file folders. This time, I added a new twist. Over the holidays, I received some beautiful gifts from some very special blogger friends. I pondered as to whether to frame them, or place in a portfolio or do something else with them. Well, that something else evolved into my file folders.

I knew it would be wrong to make a copy of any of my friends artwork, so I used the actual work they sent me. Now, whenever I go to my folders and pull out “Dreams", I think of Sharon Tomlinson at all Norah’S art She sent me a beautiful image of one of her colorful gals. The Epson printer she uses gives a crisp clean copy. Sharon even shows how she achieves this on one of her posts! She also sent napkins and I even used the original of those too. It was interesting sewing on a paper napkin…..something I’ve never done before. I left Sharon’s lovely message so I can always be reminded of her generosity.

"Travel" file folder, original artwork from Lisa Wright

When I’m planning a trip, I now see a beautiful girl with green eyes with a castle in the background and I remember Lisa Wright from The Wright Stuff
I placed her handwritten message to me on the back of the folder as well. Lisa and I did a collaboration a few months ago. She is an amazing writer and I couldn’t have finished my “Isis” sculpture without her.

"Books" file folder, original artwork from Priti Lisa

Priti Lisa sent me one of her whimsical prints with a saying that I have come to love. I placed the title “Books” at the top of Lisa’s work. I know Lisa loves to read and I will be reminded of her whenever I go to this file. You can see Lisa’s diversified work here

"Addresses" file folder, original artwork from Debby Harriettha

Last but not least. I admired this beautiful face I saw on The Gathering Nest and lo and behold..there she was in a beautiful Christmas card. I decided on “Addresses” for Debby’s folder. At Christmas every year, I’ll be reminded of her generosity and I’ll have addresses of all my blogger friends whenever I open this file.

Thank you all so very much!

Sculpture School

2011-01-10T07:24:00.003-05:00

SCHOOL OF SCULPTURE

FACES, FACES, FACES

Stoneware clay face planters

Finally! After spending over a year renovating my Tuscany Suite, I am ready to offer sculpture classes here at Woodloft.

I love both taking and giving classes. I’ve studied sculpture and other forms of art all over the world and have an idea of what a good class should be like. In preparing my sculpture class, I decided to fashion it after the ones that I have enjoyed the most and also add my own touches.

Woodloft welcome sign

When I studied fresco making in Serravalle, Italy, I was impressed with the fact that my superb teacher, Alma Ortolan, offered an all inclusive class. Her mother, Leo, who was an excellent chef, provided all of our meals. This allowed plenty of time for learning fresco. Another time, in France, the class I took in anatomical sculpture, offered a wonderful French country atmosphere and a stay in an 11th century castle. While I can’t offer the castle, Italy or France, I do have a lovely home located in the heart of the Blue Ridge Parkway, which I have named Woodloft. At Woodloft, we will combine studies with local sightseeing and have a chef prepare all our meals. That would be my version of an all-inclusive.

Tuscany Suite

I like the idea that my students won’t have to scurry around looking for supplies since I’ll have absolutely everything they will need for their studies. They won’t have to worry about meals, since the chef will be doing all the cooking, and they won’t have to worry about hotels since I have accommodations for 5 people. By keeping the class at 5, I will be able to devote utmost attention to each one.

My studio

I named my workshop, Faces, Faces, faces. I plan to teach my students how to create a face using various materials such as stoneware clay, paper clay and a few other types of clay. We will construct a stoneware clay planter with face that will be fired in the kiln. We will also build a tall stoneware clay Goddess figure. While the clay is drying, we will create a doll using a non firing clay and also a bas- relief to be used on the cover of our journals.

Tall standing sculpture

Since it does take awhile for the clay to dry and for firing, the class will take two excursions. We will visit Chateau Morrisette, which is a lovely French restaurant and winery located in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains along the Blue Ridge Parkway. We will also visit the Taubman Museum located in the Farmer’s Market in Roanoke and have lunch while there.

Blue Ridge Parkway

The fabulous chef I have chosen for the class, Stratton St. Clair, is a bit eccentric. Here is what he says about himself:

“Wayne is mildly psychotic... fortunately for everyone around him it is expressed in generosity, good humor and fine foods. He claims that he learned how to cook in order to augment the fine art of seduction then discovered he was better at the cooking. He has worked in many restaurants and chased out of many more. He likes to make as much as he can from scratch and in the process has taught himself how to garden, hunt wild mushrooms, brew beer, make some cheeses, can foods... make sausages, dry foods and smoke them though meats and cheeses tend to clog the pipe. In the years since he has renounced the restaurant trade his cooking has become more refined and now he understands (via the context of cooking) what Picasso meant when he said that it has taken him a life time to learn to draw like a child; consequently Wayne can be often observed playing with his food. ;) W”

Stratton will not only cook for us but will also give us a cooking class at the end of the sculpture session.

Stratton St. Clair

All in all, I think everyone will have a grand time, including me. My goal is that at the end of the week, each student will take away samples of the work they create in class and to have a firm grasp of how to recreate the process once home. I will be available to the students exclusively all week.

Woodloft pool

I am placing class information on my right hand side bar for you to refer to at any time. The site can still use a bit of tweaking but a complete itinerary with prices, videos and all details can be found there. You can also click on http://www.cheryldolbyschoolofsculpture.com I hope you will join me!!!!

My art car B-dazle

ARTSY FILE FOLDERS

2011-01-01T10:30:00.000-05:00

ARTSY FILE FOLDERS

THE ART OF LIVING LAVISHLY

Collaged file folders

Living lavishly is easier than you think. It doesn’t require a lot of money but it does involve imagination and ingenuity. You can start by taking mundane items in your home and kicking them up a notch.

I must admit, I hate to file anything. I really hate filing bills and medical documents in file cabinets. It’s as though I have a mental block about this, even though I know how supremely important it is to have a good filing system. (It’s also a good idea to have a high quality filing system on your computer, but that’s another story.)

I used one of my stories, the banner for my blog and lots of metallic thread on this folder

When I read an article in Somerset Life Magazine, I knew immediately that I wanted to make my own version of Lisa Guerin’s file folders. The ones I created look completely different from Lisa’s but that is always the idea in art. When artists are highlighted in craft magazines, they are there to show an example of “how to” make their creations, not to be copied exactly.

With that in mind, here are some of the folders I am getting ready for my new 2011 filing system. I’m hoping they will encourage me to be more organized.

On this one, I used a digital print from my Celtic Woman and one of my mosaic labyrinth from my laundry room

I used digital prints of my paintings and sculpture on cloth and paper. I added paper, lace, embroidery thread, text from old and foreign books, sequins, etc. I added stories from my books to some of the folders as well. I embroidered around these pieces using intricate stitching and also added some free motion stitching. If you double click on the folders, you will see the elaborate stitching in metallic thread

This collage has a heavily textured background and a face from one of my paintings

These artsy file folders are extremely addictive, sort of like potato chips, you can’t eat just one. You can’t make just one of these once you get going on them. I made so many that I decided to sell them in sets of 5 for those of you who don’t have the time, inclination or even a sewing machine with which to make them.

The girl is from my painting "Mesmorized" and I used several textured cloth pieces from an old purse

Here are some examples of labels you can give them. Of course, it will vary from person to person. I will leave the labeling to you.

Dreams
Medical bills
Water bill
Gas bill
Cable TV, Phone HS
Electric bill
To Do
Blog Post Ideas
Dynamic ideas
New Year's Resolutions

A face from my "Doors" series

This one was inspired by a really cool card and gift from my friend Dian-oh so French

At some point I may list these sets on Etsy but for now, if you’d like a set of them to get you going in the right direction, just e-mail me and I’ll ship them off to you. I’ll choose a variety of themes and colors for each set. We can use Paypal or I also take checks.

I have priced them reasonably at $35.00 for a set of 5. Shipping to the UK France and Australia is $9.00. Shipping to Canada is $6.00 and anywhere in the United States is $5.50. I hope they get you started on the path to a lavishly lived new year.

SNOWFLAKE CANDLE MEMORIES

2010-12-19T17:16:00.003-05:00

Snowflake Candles

Last Christmas, our little town had over 22 inches of snow on Christmas week. This is a time I treasure each year because so many wonderful things seem to happen so fast. I was snowed in alone for the first time in my life and felt very nostalgic as I wrote my blog post. People have told me all year that it was their favorite of mine and have asked me to repost. I’ve always loved this phrase, and now I get to use it... “Back by popular demand,” I am reposting my Snowflake Candles. Hope you like it.

This is the first time in my entire life that I have been snowed in alone. It’s quite remarkable really, considering that I spent many years living in the snow belt of Lake Erie and Warren Ohio. Oh yes, we were snowed in quite often there, but there were always children then and lots of family. Now, my children are grown and live in their own homes. In many ways, the snowstorm has allowed me to experience calm and peace. How can anyone ask me to go anywhere or do anything for them now? I am trapped. I am snowed in, with no hope of emerging for many days. Oh, so sad..tee hee.

Our Virginia Department of Transportation is working overtime trying to clear Interstate 81. Travelers are trapped in their cars. Until the trucks that frequent this highway that were abandoned for lack of gas and heat, are towed, the crews cannot clear our city and county roads much less Interstate 81.

In many ways I feel fortunate. Other storms in the past, have caused power outages here at Woodloft. My lights flickered only once this time so far, in a teasing way. Being alone with heat and lights makes it all so bearable. But…the quiet…it is so quiet…so surreal.

Candles displayed in the snow

Another display in the snow

When I first stated that I was going to post my Magical Christmas week, I had no idea what was ahead. Sometimes it’s best to take things as they come. I am now in tune to creating a beautiful Woodloft Christmas, even if I may not have the food or the gifts I had hoped to purchase. One way or another, Christmas will happen at some point but, I never would have guessed that I might be having my own “Merry Little Christmas.” Me? The person who loves to entertain and loves a crowd, especially family?

My friend Kyle offered me a bottle of water a few weeks ago on the Farmer’s Market. She and her husband Dave have a booth next to mine. I was amazed at the beautiful bottle in which the water was held. It had dazzling snowflakes all over the surface. Kyle and Dave create kiln fired glass bottles shaped to become cheese trays. Kyle told me where she had purchased them. She said she hoped I’d give her the bottles after I drank the water. She wanted to “smoosh” them. That is the way she and Dave describe the process they use to kiln fire the bottles.

I took Kyle’s advice and bought many of the Evian bottles of water. I knew I wanted to do something unique with them but was not sure what at the time. I thought about putting water inside and adding a single rose or other flowers. Then the idea came to me to use a simple white candle in each bottle.

I had to drink a lot of the water over the last few days but here they are, serene and delicate looking, just like snowflakes.

Aren’t they beautiful in the snow? I’ll move them inside soon but for now, I am luxuriating in their splendor.

Single tapered candle

Sometimes, the simple things we do in life can have a profound effect. I love this candelabra and it cost me only the price of the bottles of water and inexpensive white candles. I am so glad I shopped for the white candles for the bottles last week, otherwise, I might be showing you plain bottles in the snow.

Tomorrow I will tell you how our family devised a new way to celebrate Christmas by spending very, very little cash for presents. We call our Christmas game, “Naughty Santa.” Wait till you see how much fun it can be. But until then, I will sit at my computer, perhaps work in the studio for awhile or maybe I'll just gaze out of my windows as I take my nostagic winter journey inward with glorious memories of Christmas past.

TIME CAPSULE

2010-12-14T17:14:00.016-05:00

TIME CAPSULE

ONCE UPON A TIME

Very unusual "time" piece

I’ve always been intrigued with the idea of time capsules. When my children were young, we gathered together some of their toys and other everyday items like coins and newspapers. We placed them into a metal box along with a poem that we wrote and buried it in our yard in St. Louis. The poem started something like this:

“Woe be it to he, she and they who open this box before this day.”

The actual poem was longer but I can’t remember it now. As we placed the box into the ground, we were excited thinking about someone from another century finding it. We imagined the look on their faces when they discovered what life was like back in the twentieth century.

Jax's Time traveler book

It was with that in mind that I created this storybook for my new grandson, Jax. I decided that I wanted to fashion it after a “Once Upon a Time” type of story with an outer space theme.

"Once upon a time" and the Visitors from outer space

It is hard to believe that I actually found the very old time keeper ( I don’t know what it is exactly) that I placed on the front. It was stored away with steampunk type items in my studio and worked out perfectly. I set the date to his actual birthday.

Front of mysterious box where book is to be kept

I also wanted to have time appear to stand still on the day he was born. I think I accomplished it by showing each and every one of his relatives on the Dolby side of the family, as we were on that day. I know that right now I would love to have a journal or album created especially for me, exclaiming and proclaiming my birth. I would love to be perusing that sanctified book and viewing my aunts, uncles, cousins and entire family as they were on the day I was born.

View of some of the inside pages

My son Cameron, Jax's father

My parents, "The Greats"

Skyrockets and explosions from deep space...Jax is born!

I crackled and textured the box and added a mysterious key and the time keeper I had found. I placed his special book into the mysterious box I created for it.

Book placed inside of box

I’m headed for Washington D.C. this morning and I will surprise the parents with Jax’s book. I’m posting the blog just as I leave so that they can view it when I get there. Hope they like it.

HEALING WOMAN SOAPS AND CREAMS

2010-12-12T09:31:00.000-05:00

HEALING WOMAN SOAPS AND CREAMS

Healing Woman soap and cream gift package

Many of you probably wonder why I have named my blog, “Healing Woman.” Even though my postings are very diverse and don’t always lend themselves to the subject of healing, I like to think that the stories I attach to each of my art pieces are in some way therapeutic. Words can be powerful healers and thoughts do turn into words. It is wise to choose the good ones, as Tut reminds us.

By focusing on good thoughts and words, illness can be turned around. It is important to be atuned to our bodies and I do believe that illness doesn’t shout, it whispers. Listen for the whispers.

Three soaps available now-Lavender, Rose Geranium and Lemongrass

A few years ago, I decided to create healing soaps. I wanted them to be extremely special. They couldn’t be just any soaps. I read endlessly on the subject of soap and searched until I found ingredients that I believe to be good for your skin.

Closer look

Naturally, my soaps have faces. It seems that almost everything I create has a face but I never guessed I’d be creating “soap” faces. It’s amazing where art takes you.

I decided to use all natural ingredients. I chose shea butter as the base. Unfortunately, others have discovered it’s healing properties and many cosmetic companies are having a hard time keeping it in stock. I sometimes have to wait for months for my shipment to arrive. Shea butter derives from the Karite tree which is grown in Africa and well known for it’s restorative properties. I whip the butter which makes it very creamy and luxuriant. One of my customers told me that she puts water on her face before bed and then just a little of my cream. She said it has made a tremendous difference in her skin. Her face is almost completely wrinkle free. I never have used water as the base but I’m going to try it.

I use other emollients such as coconut oil, emu oil (very good for joint pain) olive oil, just to name a small portion of the ingredients. I vary the ingredients with each new batch I make. I also use these same ingredients in my Goddess Magic Creams

Gift box

Sometimes I grind herbs such as lavender and lemongrass to a fine pulp and add them to my creams as well. I also use essential lavender oil, not the fragrant oil. Fragrant oil is synthetic and is probably the reason why some people sneeze when they are around certain fragrances. The essential oil is pure and derived from the heart of the plant.

I have packaged my soaps and creams into a gift box which includes the cream and soap and a scroll describing the healing ingredients I use.

What I have available now is lemongrass soap with lavender cream, rose Geranium soap with lavender cream and lavender soap with lavender cream. I’ll be posting more in January when I have time to make them.

You can e- mail me and we can make arrangements for shipping. I take Paypal or checks. I’m pretty sure they will arrive in most parts of the USA before Christmas with priority shipping.